OF  Tin 

University  of  California. 

'    rlF^r     OK 


Received '        ^^yrr^^i^       .  i^o 
Accession  No.   iJ~0O  So    •    Class  No. 


IE  ST9. 


lO 


DEL05E.E.U.UDE     -^ 


VENEZUEiyt 


.^>r  ^      Oar 

'OR- 


// 


P 


z 

o 

H 

m 

a 

X 

w 

< 


o 
u 


a 
z 

5 
5 

< 

^3 
M 
Z 

> 


;\W^vpV%«'5^v«^i 


World's  Columbian  Exposition 


AT    CHICAGO. 


/  ^ 


^>io      d^    r^  (, 


THE 


UNITED  STATES  OF  VENEZUELA 


IN 


lb  Jo.         ^^:^3R^: 

V       OP  XT 


PUBLISHED    BY    ORDER   OF   TIIH 

G  0  V  E  R  N  M  E  N  T     0  E    VENEZUELA. 

New  YoiiK. 


,\/f 


s^Sirx, 


t^e  taxfon  (pre&& 

171,  173  Macdougal  Street,  New  York 


OFFICIAL    DOCUMENTS 


United  States  op  Venezuela,  Ministry  of         J 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  Foreign  Public  Law,  v 

Caracas,  November,  7,  1892.      ) 

Resolved  : 

As  the  day  is  approaching  on  which  the  great  international 
Contest  to  which  the  North  American  Union  has  convened  all 
other  nations  of  the  globe,  will  be  opened  in  the  city  of  Chicago; 
and  whereas  this  notable  celebration,  ilie  purpose  of  which  is  to 
glorify  the  Discovery  of  America,  cannot  be  a  subject  of  indifference 
to  Venezuela,  the  nation  of  the  continent  which  first  received  the 
civilizing  benefits  of  that  great  event;  and  whereas  also  the  period 
of  war  through  which  the  Republic  has  been  passing  does  not  allow 
it  to  bring  forward  the  elements  which  would  make  it  appear  as  a 
productive  soil  amongst  the  other  competing  States,  the  Chief  of  the 
Executive  Power  has  resolved  to  name  a  Commission  composed  of 
Doctor  Manuel  Vicente  Toledo  and  Senor  J.  M.  Larralde  in  order 
to  represent  the  country  in  the  said  universal  Contest. 

At  the  solemn  inauguration  of  the  Exhibition  the  Envoy 
Extraordinary  and  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  the  Republic  in 
Washington  will  preside  ad  honoreni  the  representatives  of  Vene- 
zuela. And  in  order  that  this  Resolution  may  procure  practical 
results  for  the  country,  the  two  persons  designated  as  representa- 
tives aforesaid  will  transmit  periodically  to  the  Government 
detailed  reports  concerning  everything  they  may  observe  in  the 
Exhibition  which  may  be  worthy  of  ])eing  utilized  to  the  advantage 
of  the  Republic  from  a  scientific,  artistic,  or  industrial  point  of 
view. 

During  the  period  which  will  elapse  before  the  inauguration 
of  the  great  Contest,  the  Commissioners  are  to  study  tlie  miuuier 
of  giving  to  the  duties  entrusted  to  them  all   required  importance. 


4  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

for  wliicli  purpose  they  will  forward  in  due  course  to  this  office  the 
plan  of  action  which  examination  of  the  subject  will  suggest  to 
them. 

Let  this  be  communicated  and  published. 

For  the  Xational  Executive, 

P.    EZEQUIEL   ROJAS. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of         ) 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  roREK4N  Public  Law,  ^- 

Caracas,  December  12,  1892.  ) 

Resolyed  : 

By  order  of  the  Cliief  of  the  National  Executive  Power,  Sefior 
Jacinto  Lopez  is  named  a  member  of  the  Commission  which  is  to 
represent  Venezuela  at  tlie  Universal  Exhibition  of  Chicago,  and 
wliicli  was  created  by  a  Resolution  of  this  same  Dejiartment  on  the 
7th  day  of  Xovember  last. 

Let  this  be  communicated  and  jniblished. 

For  the  National  Executive, 

P.    EZEQUIEL   ROJAS. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  Foreign  Public  Law, 

Caracas,  December  17,  1892. 
Ri':soLVEi): 

By  order  of  the  Chief  of  the  National  Executive  Power,  Sefior 
Jose  Antonio  Sanchez  N.,  is  named  an  honorary  member  of  the 
Commission  which  is  to  represent  Venezuela  at  the  Universal 
Exhibition  of  Chicago,  and  which  was  created  by  a  Resolution  of 
tbis  same  Department  on  the  7tli  day  of  November  last 
Let  this  be  communicated  and  published. 

For  the  National  Executive, 

P.    EZEQUIEL    ROJAS. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of  \ 

Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  Foijeign  Public  Law,  v 

Caracas,  December  24,  1892.  ) 

Resolved  : 

By  order  of  tlie  C*hief  of  the  National  Executive  Pomci-.  Sefior 
A.  S.  Baker  is  named  an  honorary  member  of  the  Commission  which 


WORLD  S   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION".  5 

is  to  represeut  Venezuela  at  the  Universal  Exhibition  of  Chicago, 
and  which  was  created  by  a  Resolution  of  this  same  Department 
on  the  7th  day  of  November  last. 

Let  this  be  communicated  and  published. 

For  the  National  Executive^ 

■     P.    EZEQUJ] 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  op\^.:^    -i*. 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  FoREUiN  Purlic  Law,  V 

Caracas,  December  20,  1892.  ) 

Resolved  : 

Taking  into  account  the  exceptional  advantages  wdiicli  the 
Universal  Exhibition  of  Chicago  oilers  for  the  good  reputation  and 
credit  of  the  countries  which  will  takcpart  in  it;  and  whereas  the 
absence  of  Venezuela  as  a  producing  center  in  this  great  Com^^e- 
tition  would  be  in  all  respects  to  be  lamented,  the  more  so  that  its 
soil,  called  by  the  conquerors  Costa  Firmc,  -was  the  first  of  the  Con- 
tinent where  was  felt  the  beneficial  influence  of  the  glorious  dis- 
covery the  commemoration  of  which  constitutes  the  primary  object 
of  this  extraordinary  Competition ;  the  Chief  of  the  Executive  Power, 
notwithstanding  the  unfavorable  conditions  in  which  the  Republic 
finds  itself  for  taking  part  in  it,  on  account  of  the  late  painful 
occurrences,  has  decided  on  enlarging  the  object  of  the  Resolution 
edicted  by  this  same  Office  on  the  7th  day  of  November  last,  and  to 
enable  Venezuela  to  appear  in  that  tournament  of  civilization  in 
the  manner  most  suitable  to  the  position  it  occujnes  among  the 
modern  States  of  America. 

To  that  effect,  and  so  that  the  work  indispensable  for  the  real- 
ization of  this  end  may  immediately  receive  the  impulse  which  the 
short  time  available  necessitates,  it  is  resolved : 

1.  To  name  a  Commission  which  will  take  measures  concern- 
ing everything  relative  to  the  collection  and  forwarding  of  samples 
or  objects  which  will  make  the  licpublic  known  in  its  distinct 
aspects,  and  will  result,  above  all,  in  fixing  general  attention  on 
the  peculiar  nature  of  its  workable  wealth. 

2.  To  request  through  this  Office  from  the  other  Departments 
of  the  Executive  Power  that  they  may  contrilmte  within  their 
respective  jurisdictions  and  by  all  means  in   their  power  to  facili- 


6  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

tate  the  labors  of  the  Commission  created    by   this  same   Reso- 
lution. 

3.  To  urge  scientific  and  literary  Associations  throughout  the 
Rei)ublic  to  prepare  for  the  Contest  special  works,  which  will  give 
an  idea  of  the  intellectual  movement  of  Venezuela;  and 

4.  To  contract  in  the  United  States  for  the  construction  of  a 
building  where  will  be  exhibited  everything  connected  with  the 
Kepublic.  This  building  is  to  be  erected  under  the  immediate 
control  of  the  Commission  representing  Venezuela  at  the  Interna- 
tional Exhibition,  and  it  must  fulfill  such  conditions  that  when  the 
Exhibition  has  been  closed,  it  may  be  transferred  to  Caracas  and 
placed  in  a  suitable  position,  as  a  work  of  ornament  as  well  as  of 
usefulness.* 

Let  this  be  communicated  and  published. 

For  the  National  Executive, 

P.    EZEQUIEL   ROJAS. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  Foreign  Public  Law, 

Caracas,  December  26,  1892. 
Resolved: 

In  accordance  with  the  Executive  Resolution  of  this  same  date 
in  wliich  is  determined  the  part  the  Republic  is  to  take  in  the 
Universal  Exliibition  of  Chicago,  are  named  members  of  the  Com- 
mission which  is  to  collect  and  forward  the  samples  or  objects 
whicli  Venezuela  is  to  exhibit:  Doctor  Aristidcs  Rojas,  who  will 
assume  the  Presidency  of  the  Commission,  Doctor  Agustin  Avo- 
ledo,  Doctor  Adolfo  Ernst,  Sefior  Francisco  Davegno,  Senor  Jose 
Antonio  Mosquerahijo,  Senor  Emilio  J.  Mauri,  and  Sefior  Francisco 
de  Paula  Alamo. 

Let  this  be  communicated  and  published. 

For  the  National  Executive, 

P.  EzEQUiEL  Rojas. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of         ) 
Foreign  Affairs,  Diukction  of  FouKKiN  PruLic  Law,  No.  227,  V 

Caracas.  December  26,  1892.  ) 

Se5^ou  Doctor  Aristidks  Rojas: 

As  you  will  see  by  the  Resolution,  of  which  I  have  the  honor 


world's   rOLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  7 

of  enclosing-  an  nutliorized  coi)y,  tlio  Executive  Power  lias  decided 
that  Venezuela  is  to  take  part  in  the  Universal  Exhibition  of 
Chicago  and  on  naming  a  Special  Committee  which  is  to  take  meas- 
ures concerning  everything  relative  to  the  collection  and  pi-oper 
forwarding  of  the  samples  or  objects  which  are  to  be  exhibited. 

The  Committee  named  to  that  eifect  is  composed  of  yourself, 
with  the  character  of  President,  of  Doctor  Agustin  Aveledo, 
Doctor  Adolfo  Ernst,  Francisco  Davegno,  Jose  Antonio  Mosquera 
hijo,  Emilio  J.  Mauri,  and  Francisco  de  Paula  Alamo,  to  whom  the 
approjiriate  information  has  already  been  sent. 

If,  as  is  to  be  expected  from  your  patriotism,  you  accept  the 
important  charge  which  the  Government  entrusts  to  your  well- 
known  capabilities,  please  install  the  Commission  as  soon  as  possible 
and  begin  immediately  the  preparatory  work,  keeping  in  accordance 
on  every  point  with  the  S2)irit  of  the  above-mentioned  Resolution. 

Kindly  acknowledge  this  letter. 

I  remain,  sir,  your  obedient  servant, 

P.  EZEO.UIEL  ROJAS. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of         1 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  Foreign  PuiiLic  Law,  v 

Caracas,  January  4,  1893.         ) 
Resolved  : 

By  order  of  the  Chief  of  the  National  Executive  Power,  Doc- 
tor Lucas  Ramella  and  Senor  Juan  Mau'daleno  are  named  members 
of  the  Commission  which  is  to  collect  Venezuelan  articles  for  the 
Universal  Exhibition  of  Chicago,  and  which  was  created  by  Resolu- 
tion of  the  2Gth  of  December,  1892. 

For  the  National  Executive, 

P.  Ezequiel  Rojas. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of         \ 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  of  Foreign  Public  Law,  v 

Caracas,  February  18,  1893.         ) 
Resolved  : 

The  Chief  of  the  Executive  Power  being  desirous  of  commem- 
orating worthily  the  part  which  Veneznela  will  take  in  the  Uni- 
versal Exhibition  of  Chicago,  has  dccitlcd  on  creating,  for  that 
object,  a  medal,  which  will  be  of  white  metal,  will  have  a  circular 


8  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

form,  and  will  measure  six  centimeters  in  diameter.  On  tiie 
obverse  of  this  medal  will  be  engraved  the  bust  of  Christopher 
Columbus  above  two  anchors  inclined  in  opposite  directions  and 
attaclied  in  the  lower  part  by  a  ril)bon  in  the  center  of  which  will 
appear  the  name  of  the  Discoverer.  At  the  edge  of  the  field  of  that 
part  of  the  semicircle  occu^ned  by  the  bust,  the  medal  Avill  bear 
this  legend:  "IV  Centenario  del  Descubrimiento  de  America." 
(Fourth  (;)entenary  of  the  Discovery  of  America.)  On  the  reverse 
will  be  the  different  attributes  of  the  National  Escutcheon,  sepa- 
rated so  as  to  leave  a  central  space,  below  the  stars  which  symbolize 
the  Federation,  for  the  following  inscription:  "Venezuela  en  la 
Exposicion  Universal  Colombina  de  Chicago,  1893.'^  (Venezuela 
at  the  Universal  Columbian  Exhibition  of  Chicago,  1893.)  On  the 
right  will  appear  the  flags  and  swords  Avliich  constitute  the  quar- 
ter! ngs  of  the  shield;  on  the  left,  the  bundle  of  spikes  of  corn; 
and  in  the  lower  part  above  the  motto  "  Libertad  ''  and  inside  of  a 
field  formed  by  two  horns  of  plenty,  joined  in  an  angle  at  the  nar- 
row end,  the  heraldic  horse  of  the  Republic  in  the  usual  attitude 
and  of  the  proper  dimensions. 

Let  this  be  communicated  and  published. 

For  the  National  Executive, 

r.    EZEQUIEL   ROJAS. 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  op 
FoiiEiGN  Affairs,  Direction  of  Forekjn  Public  Law,  No.  174. 

Caracas,  February  21,  1893. 

To  THE  MiNISTEIl  OF  PUBLTC  INSTRUCTION: 

AVhereas  this  Department  has  originally  been  entrusted  with  the 
arrangements  for  the  representation  of  Venezuela  at  the  Universal 
Exhibition  of  Chicago,  it  has  ordered  in  due  time  the  design  which 
is  to  serve  as  a  model  for  engraving  a  new  postage-stamp,  which 
the  Cliief  of  the  Executive  Power  has  preseril)ed  to  create  for  the 
purpose  of  commemorating  the  Fourth  Centenary  of  the  l^iscovery 
of  America  and  Venezuela's  partici})ation  in  the  said  Exhibition. 
And  whereas  the  carrying-out  of  this  decree  belongs  to  your  Office, 
especially  in  what  concerns  the  eiigi-Mvinu-,  iiiii)ortali()n,  and  sale  of 
said  postage-stamp,  I  have  the  honor  of  transmitting  to  you   the 


world's   COLUMBIAN"   EXPOSITION.  9 

said  design  for  tliat  purpose,  together  with  corresponding  descrip- 
tion and  a  sample  of  the  stamp  created  a  short  time  ago  by  the 
Government  of  the  United  States  with  an  object  analogous  to  that 

of  Venezuela. 

I  am,  sir,  your  oljcdicnt  servant, 

v.  EZEQUIEL  EOJAS. 


Description  of  the  new  postage-stamp,  created  by  order  of  the 
Chief  of  the  National  Executive  Power,  in  order  to  vom- 
memorate  the  Fourth  Centenary  of  the  Discovery  of  America 
and  Venezi:ela's  participation  in  the  Universal  Exiiirition  of 
Chicago. 

The  stamp,  wliich  will  be  of  the  value  of  twenty-five  hundredths 
of  a  bolivar,  will  be  of  oblong  shape,  will  measure  thirty-six  milli- 
meters in  length  by  twenty-five  in  width,  and  on  a  light  vioh^t 
ground  will  represent  the  landing  of  the  officers  of  Columbus  on 
the  coast  of  A^enezuela  in  the  year  1498.  The  upper  part  Avill  bear 
the  numbers  indicating  the  price  of  the  stamp,  the  year  of  the  Dis- 
covery of  America  and  that  of  the  Fourth  Centenary  and  the 
inscription:  "Correos  de  Venezuela''  (Venezuelan  Post-Office). 
The  lower  part  will  bear  the  inscription:  ''Discovery  of  the  Costa 
Firme,  1498." 


United  States  of  Venezuela,  Ministry  of 
Foreign  Affairs,  Direction  op  Foreign  Public  Law,  No.  IT.") 

Caracas,  February  21,  1893. 

To  THE  MiNiSTEii  OK  THE  Post-Office  A XI)  I'elegrapiis : 

On  this  same  date  the  Office  under  my  charge  is  addressing 
that  of  Public  Instruction  in  the  terms  which  I  noAv  have  the 
honor  of  inserting: 

(Here  comes  communication  Number  \1  A,  concerning  the  creation  of  a  new 
vostage-stamp,  intended  to  commemorate  the  Fourth  Centenary  of  the  Discovery  of 
America  and  Venezuela's  participation  in  the  Universal  Exhibition  of  Chicago.) 

And  I  have  the  honor  of  transcribing  for  you  what  precedes, 
and  of  remitting  to  you,  in  a  se])arate  envelope,  tlie  description  to 
which  reference  is  made  therein,  because  tlie  carryiuif-out  of  this 


10 


THE    UNITED    STATES    OF   YEXEZUELA. 


decision  concerns  your  Ministry  in  tli£it  wliicli  relates  to  tlie  circula- 
tion of  the  new  stamp  througliout  the  National  Post-Office,  and 
also  the  j)roper  forwarding  of  sample  copies  and  consequent  infor- 
mation to  the  International  Office,  of  Berne. 

Im  am,  sir,  your  ohedient  servant, 

P.   EZEQUIEL   EOJAS. 


u 

o 

V 

3 

^ 

3 

a 

^_ 

(U 

o 

;:^ 

ll 

u 

u 

TJ 

^ 

1- 

o 

t« 

>> 

o 

J3 

4) 

-T3 

U 

V 

4> 

c« 

30 

>-< 
o 

3 
O 

6 

a 
o 

U 

r-( 

V 

^ 

01 

Q 

■a 

3 

< 

c« 
in 
O 

a 

y^ 

1) 

c    o 

<  s 

z 

u 
.£ 

u,    £ 

O    JZ 

H 

2 

1) 
O 

6 

'■5    S 

a 

in 

<U      3 

X 

-a 

o    ^ 

H 

Ul 

3 

=^  t; 

tfl 

'^ 

0 

oT 

■5    u 

c 

C    J3 

>^ 

"a; 

rt     — 
^     0 

2i 

-3 

a 

S 

V. 

o 

c 

^ 

u 

3 

3 

j: 

0 

^ 

u 

0 
7) 

< 

in 

3 

n     .2   « 


1=  E 

il  c 

N  E 

IJ  o 

c  u 

>  2 


GENERAL   DESCRIPTION 


OF    THE 


UNITED  STATES  OF  VENEZUELA. 


SUMMARY. 

GeograpJiical  Position — Limits — Extent — Population — Rivers  and  Brooks — 
Lakes — Lands— 3Iountains— Islands — Coasts— Gidfs — Seasons — Tem- 
perature— Mines — Thermal  Waters — Agricidture — Live  Stock — Other 
Productions  —  Public  Instruction  —  Public  Works  —  Public  Debt  — 
Public  Revenue — National  Expenses — Imports — Exports — Mail  Serv- 
ice— Telegraphs — Telephones — Navigation  —  Roads  and  Railways  — 
Immigration  —  Immigration  Laics  —  Vacant  Lands  —  Weights  and 
Measures — Monetary  System — Banks — Press — Public  Libraries — Na- 
tional  Museum — Astronomical  Observatory — Government  and  Civil 
Institutions— Historical  Brief — Controvei^sy  of  Limits  icith  England 
— Regular  Steamship  Lines  betiveen  Venezuela,  Europe,  and  the 
United  States. 

GeOgraptlicai  Tlie  lxci:)ublic  of  the  United  States  of  Venezuelii 

Position.        lies  at  tlie  iiortlieru  end  of  South  America.     It  is  in- 

chided  within  the  limits  of  the  Torrid  Zone  1^  40'  Lat. 

S.  and  12°  26  N.    Its  Long.,  following  the  parallel  of 

Cardcas,  is  10°  20'  E.  and  6*^  25'  W. 

Limits.  It^  limits  are,  on  the  North,  the  Caribbean  Sea;  on 

the  South,  the  United  States  of  Brazil  and  2)art  of  the 
Colombian  Republic;  on  the  East,  British  Guiana 
and  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  and  on  the  AVest  the  above 
Republic  of  Colombia. 

ExtOnt.  Within  its  borders  tlie  teri'itory  of  Venezuela  em- 

braces an  area  of  50T,9GO  square  miles,  which   sur- 


12  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

passes  in  extent  that  of  France,  Germany,  and  the 
Low  Countries  together,  or  the  combined  States  of 
Texas,  Colorado,  Idaho,  and  California. 

Population.  The  total  popuLation  of  Venezuela,  as  per  census  of 

1891,  reaches  the  number  of  3,323,527  souls. 

Rivers  and  The  soil  of  Venezuela  is  watered  b}^  1,047  rivers  and 

Brooks.  brooks,  and  of  these  430  are  Orinoco  affluents;  230 

discharge  into  the  Caribbean  Sea,  12-1  into  the  Gulf 
of  Paria,  120  into  the  Lake  of  Maracaibo,  and  22  into 
the  Lake  of  Valencia.  Tlie  principal  rivers,  which 
allow  large  ships  to  enter  their  waters,  are  the  Orinoco, 
Apure,  Meta,  Caura,  Negro,  and  Guarico.  The  Ori- 
noco river  is  navigable  to  the  place  called  Los  Atures, 
850  miles  distant  from  the  Ocean.  By  means  of  the 
Orinoco  branches  running  froui  the  AVest  the  rich 
products  from  the  interior  of  the  Colombian  Republic 
are  transported  to  the  European  and  American 
markets.  Other  navigable  tributaries  to  the  Orinoco 
run  South  and  join  the  Amazon  river  or  its  affluents, 
opening  additional  communications  with  the  Ocean. 

Lakes.  The  two  largest  lakes  are  Maracaibo  and  Valencia. 

The  first,  at  the  level  of  the  sea,  has  2,100  square 
miles,  and  the  second,  Avliich  is  1,G92  feet  above  the 
Ocean,  has  GG  square  miles. 

Lands.  The  soil  is  divided  into  three   different  sections, 

which  are  called  agricultural,  grazing,  and  wooded 
lands.  To  the  first  division  correspond  the  farms  for 
coffee,  cocoa,  sugar-cane,  grains,  etc.  The  cultivation 
of  these  lands  does  not  amount  to  300  square  miles, 
and  there  yet  remain  for  clearing  and  ploughing 
13,350  square  miles  which  could  increase  seventy 
times  at  least  the  actual  production. 

The  grazing  section  is  covered  with  rich  gramine- 
ous; cattle  and  herds  thrive  plentifully  and  fatten 


world'?;   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  13 

with  little  attention  on  the  part  of  the  owners.  In 
this  belt  exist  the  large  stock-yards  supplying  the 
farmers  and  markets  with  oxen  for  plough  and 
nutriment. 

The  third  section,  or  woods,  yields  the  productions 
naturally  obtained  from  the  soil,  as  rubber,  vanilla, 
sarrapia,  co2>aiba,  sarsaparilla,  timber,  and  precious 
woods  which  are  excellent  for  building,  tanning, 
textiles  of  several  Ivinds,  resins,  balms,  and  many 
medicinal  plants,  affording  a  vast  field  for  business 
with  little  effort  to  industrious  people. 

Mountains.  There  are  three  systems  of  moj.intains  in  Venezuela: 

the  Andes,  the  Coast,  and  the  Parima  Ranges. 

The  Andes,  trending  from  Pamplona,  in  the  Repub- 
lic of  Colombia,  towards  the  northeast,  one  branch 
of  which  extends  to  the  Peninsula  Goajira,  and  the 
other  entering  the  State  of  Los  Andes,  mingles  with 
the  Coast  Range. 

Th^  Coast  Range  runs  2)arallel  with  the  coast  of 
the  Caribbean  Sea  and  extends  its  branches  to  the 
interior  of  the  sections  Bolivar,  Miranda,  Carabobo, 
Cojedes,  Yaracuy,  Barquisimeto,  and  Falcon. 

The  third,  or  Parima  Range,  begins  in  the  interior 
of  the  State  of  Bolivar,  traversing  the  country  east 
and  west,  and  forming  the  southern  limit  of  the 
agricultural  zone. 

Islands.  The  islands  belonging  to  Venezuela  number  about 

seventy,  and  all  of  them  are  of  small  size,  excepting 
the  ]\Iargarita  island,  which  has  441  square  miles. 

Coasts.  Tlie  coast  extends  1,87G  miles  and  is  washed  by  the 

Caribbean  Sea  and  the  Atlantic  Ocean.  There  are 
distributed  along  it  thirty-two  harbors,  fifty  bays,  and 
numerous  inlets.  The  lakes  of  Maracaibo  and  Valencia 
have  several  interior  ports,  and  near  the  outfalls  of 
the  large  rivers  safe  anchorages  are  found. 

Gulfs.  Five  gulfs  are  formed  by  the  coast.     Tlie  largest  is 

known  as  the  Gulf  of  Maracaibo  and  contains  1,G20 


14  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

square  miles.  It  is  followed  by  the  Paria,  or  Triste 
Grlf,  900  square  miles.  The  Coro  Gulf  contains  180 
square  miles,  and  the  Santa  Fe  Gulf,  which  is  the 
smallest,  contains  only  GG~  square  miles. 

S62S0nS.  Properly  speaking,  there  are  but  the  rainy  and  the 

dry  seasons  m  Venezuela,  which  are  distinguished  as 
winter  and  summer  in  the  country.  The  arrival  of 
the  8im  at  the  Tropic  of  Capricorn  marks  the  first 
season,  and  when  it  enters  the  Tropic  of  Cancer,  the 
second  begins.  The  rains  fall  from  April  to  October, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  temperature  rises.  The 
rest  of  the  year  the  weather  is  cool  and  pleasant. 

During  tlie  dry  season,  or  summer,  the  northeast 
winds  are  frequent,  and  they  also  blow  from  the  north 
and  northwest,  being  more  common  in  November  and 
December  than  in  February  or  March.  Rains  fall 
during  the  same  months,  though  not  so  copiously  as 
in  winter,  and  they  are  called  *'  Northers." 

TeinpBrallirfi.  Following  the  heights  on  the  sea-level,  the  Vene- 
zuela territory  is  divided  into  three  sections:  cold, 
temperate,  and  warm.  The  snowy  peaks  are  found 
between  14*^  and  IC-^  The  temperate  lands  begin  at 
the  height  of  7,032  feet,  and  descend  till  1,928  feet 
above  the  sea-level.  Within  this  belt  all  suitable 
climates  are  found.  Tlie  hot  countries  lie  from  1,928 
feet  above  down  to  the  sea-level. 

Here  follows  a  table  with  the  temperatures  of 
several  places  in  Venezuela : 

Average  Feet  Above 

Temperature.  Sea-Level. 

Caracas F.  71  3,018 

Porto  CabcUo 80  7 

LaGuuira 84  26 

La  Victoria 74  1,494 

Valencia 77  1,824 

Maracaibo 83  28 

Mcrida 01  5,303 

Moutulbuu 73  237 


wuhld's  colltmbian  exposition.  15 

Average  Feet  Above 

Temperature.  Sea-LeveL 

Nirgua F.  71      "  2,504 

Barcelona 82  42 

Caiupano 81  24 

Maturin 82  23 

Barquisimcto 77  1,711 

Ciiulad  Bolivar 83  187 

Kio  Caribc 84  15 

The  varijition  of  temperature  in  the  warmest  locali- 
ties is  very  small,  from  IS"-'  to  19^  F.  The  tempera- 
ture of  La  Guaira,  during  the  entire  year,  as  shown 
by  five  daily  observations  of  the  thermometer,  ranges 
from  70^  to  04^  F.  y^ssses^ 

The  Northern  extremes  either  of  cold  or  lt^t"^are 
unknown  to  these  regions.  L  -  _,-,.    > 


■'0-' 


l^jllQ^^  There  are  mines  of  different  ores  in  several  sections 

of  the  country,  though  the  more  valuable  deposits  are 
found  in  the  Yuruari  region.  There  is  located  the 
Callao  mine,  its  gold  output  in  the  last  ten  years 
having  made  it  renowned  throughout  the  world. 
Gold  is  also  found  in  the  mountainous  region  watered 
by  the  Yaracui  River,  and  in  the  cities  of  San  Felipe 
and  Nirgua.  Rich  mines  of  the  same  metal,  near 
Carupano,  are  worked  with  New  York  capital,  and 
they  have  produced  seven  ounces  per  ton.  Silver, 
copper,  and  lead  mines  are  found  in  the  same 
country. 

The  valuable  copper  mines  of  Aroa  are  located  70 
miles  to  the  east  of  Porto  Cabello,  and  are  worked  by 
an  English  company.  The  red  copper  extracted 
therefrom  is  preferred  in  the  European  markets  to 
Swedish  and  Chilian  copper. 

Red  hematite  and  excellent  iron  are  found  in 
the  Cordillera.  The  same  ores  exist  at  Coro,  Barinas, 
Barcelona,   Cumana,   and   Parima;    but  the  largest 


16  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

deposits  of  these  ores  are  near  the  Imataca  River,  aD 
affluent  of  the  lower  Orinoco. 

From  the  neighborliood  of  Tocuyo  specimens  of 
lead  have  been  obtained  which  promise  a  rich  ore. 
This  mine  is  not  yet  worked. 

The  Pedernales  asphalt,  by  its  vitreous  aspect  and 
hardness,  seems  identical  with  the  Egyptian  refined, 
or  "  Epure.'' 

Coal  deposits  exist  12  miles  distant  from  Barce- 
lona, and  there  have  been  explored  in  a  short  area  over 
one  hundred  beds,  varying  from  4  to  7  inches  in 
thickness.  This  coal  is  of  the  bituminous  kind,  burns 
easily,  emits  combustible  gas,  leaves  a  small  part  of 
clayish  ashes,  and  very  little  of  sulphur. 

The  rich  salt  beds  discovered  by  Xifio,  in  1499,  at 
the  Araya  loeninsula  are  constantly  worked.  They 
have  produced  for  the  government,  since  1873,  a 
revenue  of  12,753,761.44.  Salt  is  taken  out  easily, 
and  with  little  expense. 

In  Lagunillas,  near  Merida,  the  bottom  of  a  lake  is 
covered  with  '*  urao ''  {i.  o.,  sesqui  curl)onate  of  soda). 

In  Cumana,  Barcelona,  and  Coro  are  found  large 
deposits  of  sulphur,  which  have  not  yet  been  worked. 
The  granite  in  the  Silla  Mountain,  near  Caracas,  is 
inexhaustilde,  and  slate,  marble,  granite,  and  chalk 
abouiul  on  the  coast  and  in  the  Parima  Mountains. 

Tlie  gold  exports  from  the  Yuruari  mines  from 
1886  to  1890  were: 

Companies.  Kilos.  Orams. 

Callao 6,983  87 

Chili 731  273 

The  Union 583  749 

CalkoBis. 58  138 

Cic}ii)m - 893 

Choco 155 

Venezuela  Austin.  Ld ..1,108  959 

Gold  from  sevenil  Companies 225  231 

NewPotosi ---      202  686 

Tlicsc  fiirures  amount  to  a  little  over  9  tons  of  gold 


illlivjo    <iim/niiu       tw    IV    i.i.v\ji.\j    %j  J  vjt.     sj    xj^,.i.vj   ^j.    ^, 


weight. 


WORLD'S   COLUMBTAX   EXPOSITION.  17 

Thermal  Waters.  TluTmal  jukI  minenil  waters  are  of  common  ocoiir- 
remto  in  the  sevorul  se(;tions  of  the  couiitrv.  'J'he  hot 
waters  of  Las  Triiieheras,  by  the  Porto  CabeHo  aiul 
Valencia  KK.  are  already  renowned,  and  their  temper- 
ature is  114*^.  Excepting  the  Urijino  S])rings  of 
Japan,  which  reach  117^,  Las  Trincheras  waters  are 
considered  the  hottest  in  tlie  world.  Some  remarkaljle 
springs  are  found  in  Coro,  at  La  Quiva  near  the 
Ped regal  road,  where  forty  streams  run  through  beds 
which  are  as  white  as  porcelain. 

Agriculture.  "^'lie  raising  of  coffee,  cocoa,  and  sugar-cane  forms 

the  main  agricultural  industry  in  Venezuela.  The 
two  first-named  2)roducts  are  exported  at  all  times, 
but  coffee  is  the  basis  of  the  commercial  exchange 
with  foreign  nations.  In  any  of  the  agricultural  sec- 
tions of  the  Kepublic  the  staple  grains  in  all  their 
varieties  are  easily  raised,  as  well  as  all  kinds  of  pot- 
herbs, cotton,  tobacco,  and  all  tropical  productions. 
One-fifth  of  the  population  is  devoted  to  agricultural 
pursuits. 

Live  Stock.  stock-raising  has  considerably   increased  in  Vene- 

zuela during  the  recent  years.  In  1888  the  figures 
comprising  the  preceding  fifteen  years  of  raising  were 

as  follows  : 

Increase. 
Heads  Per  Gent 

Cattle -.  8,470,291  900 

Goats  and  sheep 5,727,517  4()0 

Hogs 1,929,693  500 

Horses 887,046  400 

Mules... 800.556  600 

Donkeys... 858,963  300 

Other  The  above-mentioned  are  not  ilie  only  productions 

Productions,  of  the  country.  It  also  produces  hides,  greases,  wax, 
honey,  etc.  Sericultui-e  has  been  successfully 
attempted.  The  tortoise-shell  is  plentiful  on  the 
Western  coast  of  the  Falcon  section,  and  there  are 
deposits  of  mother-of-pearl  in  Nueva  Esparta. 


18  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

Public  The  public  schools  are  divided  into  two  classes — 

Instruction  popular  instruction  and  the  scientific  schools,  and 
both  classes  are  regulated  separately. 

The  popular  or  common  instruction  is  gratuitous 
and  compulsory.  The  1st  of  January,  1889,  the 
schools  were  attended  by  100,026  children  of  both 
sexes.  The  Federal  popular  schools  numbered  1,415 
in  1891.  Their  cost  to  the  National  Government 
amounts  yearly  to  1500,759.  There  are  also  many 
private  schools. 

The  scientific  schools  comjn-ise  2  universities,  8 
Federal  colleges  of  the  first  order,  1-1  of  the  second  ; 
14  National  colleges  for  females;  1  normal  school  for 
females  ;  1  academy  of  Fine  Arts  ;  1  school  for  sing- 
ing and  elocution  ;  1  polytechnic  school;  2G  private 
colleges  ;  1  naval  school,  and  1  school  of  telegraphy. 
The  Government  has  lately  decreed  1  agricultural 
institute.  The  attendance  at  all  these  institutions  is 
5,000  students,  who  are  under  the  tuition  of  4;>(j 
teachers.  During  the  year  1890  the  cost  of  these 
branches  of  instruction  was  1168,380.11. 

Public  Works.  Large  sums  of  money  have  been  spent  in  Venezuela 
in  public  works,  such  as  churches,  hospitals,  schools, 
parks,  monuments,  canalization,  roads,  etc.  The  sum 
disbursed  on  this  jiccount  from  December  1st,  1888,  to 
November  30th,  1890,  was  |;3,5 10,435.56. 

Public  Debt.  The  public   debt   in  existence  is  now  classed  under 

four  heads,  as  follows  :  Interior  Debt,  Foreign  Del)t, 
Debt  by  the  Diplomatic  Agreements,  and  One  Ter 
Cent  Titles,  tlie  amounts  of  which  are  : 

Interior  Debt ----  $7,354,543.96 

Foreign   Debt 12,958,801.34 

Diplomatic  Debt .-        828,915.38 

One  Per  Cent.  Titles 647,201.79 

Total $21,789,531.47 

In  order  to  meet  its  obligations,  Venezuela  has  only 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION. 


19 


Piiblic 
Revenue. 


to  set  aside  10  per  cent,  of  its  revenue  as  it  appears  in 
the  Treasury  tahles  for  1SS9-00,  a  fact  which,  viewed 
from  an  economic  standpoint,  shows  a  favorable  pros- 
pect and  the  forethought  of  its  financiers. 

The  public  revenue  in  Venezuela  is  derived  prin- 
cipally from  the  import  duties.  Other  sources  are  the 
lease  of  salt  mines,  the  postage-stamps,  mineral  taxes, 
etc. 


National  '^Che  following  tables  show  the  amounts  of  the  Gov- 

Expenses.  ernment  branches  sharing  in  the  puljlic  expenses  in 

the  mentioned  years  : 


1888-89. 
Departments.  Bolivars. 

Interior 8,187,003.66 

Foreign   Affairs 1,399,122.17 

Finances 6,000,318.16 

Public  Advancement  1,877,024.43 

Public  Credit 4,256,306.41 

Public  Works 5,379,760.24 

War  and  Navy 6, 536, 832. 21 

Public  Instruction ...  3, 786, 303. 20 


1889-90. 

Bolivars. 

7,502,514.24 

1,290,985.36 

10,844,732.89 
2,251,530.55 
3,806,716.65 

11,166,589.49 
5,489,842.86 
3,217,954.50 


Totals B.  37, 423, 390 .48       B.  45, 630, 866. 54 

Increase  during  1889-90 B.  8.207,476.06 

Here  is  a  table  showing  the  distribution  of  public 

revenue  among  the  Federal  States    in    1S8S-S9  and 

1889-90  : 

Total  receipts  for  the  two  years $7,466,666.64 

Deductfid   for  collection   and   manage- 
ment expenses 355,852.00 

$7,110,814.64 

The  total  for  the  year  1889-90  was  distributed  as  follows: 


Name  of 

Census  Pop- 

Pi'o rata  of 

State. 

ulation. 

percentage. 

Bolivars. 

Miranda 

.     494.002 

25.78 

916,580.15 

Carabol)o . . . 

.     158,851 

8.34 

296,519.72 

Lara 

.     233,752 

12.20 

433,757.86 

20 


THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 


Name  of  Census  Pop-    Pro  rata  of 

State  ulation.         percentage. 

Falcon 187,051 

Zumora 23r),;i71 

Bolivar 54,422 

Bcrmudez...  257.807 

Los  Andes..  293,108 


Bolivars. 


9.76 

347,006.29 

12.33 

438,379.87 

2.84 

100,973.14 

13.46 

478,555.81 

15.29 

543,619.48 

B.  3, 555, 392. 32 

Imports.  The  increase  of  the  import  values  effected  through 

the  Custom-IIoiises  in  the  hist  seventeen  years  has 
heen  considerable  in  comparison  with  the  figures  pre- 
ceding 187a : 

Values  Imxtoricd. 
Tears.  Bolivars. 

1830  to  1831 8,188,105.65 

1834  to  1835 13,999,167.80 

1839  to  1840 24,865,431.25 

1844  to  1845 19,846,907.70 

1849  to  1850 16,593,246.50 

1854  to  1855.... 24,971,218.00 

1859  to  1860 27,230,577.70 

1864  to  1865 38,135,265.70 

1873  to  1874... 61,717,183.45 


Tlie  values  iui])ortcd  from   the   different    foreign 
ports  ill  the  fiscal  years  1888-89  and  1889-90,  were: 


1888-89. 


Bolivars. 
ITamburg  . .25,490,94S.()0 

Havre 5,985,107.00 

St.  Nuzaire.  3,411,807.15 


Marseille's  .. 
Barcc'lonnc. 

Mala!z:a 

London  


1,043,824.10 

1,443, 06  LOO 

825,659.50 

558,686.00 


Bolivars. 
Tlahana....        47,764.05 
San  Jose  de 

CiRuta...  3,944,456.00 
Port  Spain.-  724,462.55 
New  York -.19,861, 432.20 
Liverpool ...  16,230,840.00 
Bordeaux...  1,804,209.00 


Total-.-. B.  81,372,256.55. 


»»c. 


WORLD'S   COLUMBIAN"   EXPOSITIO?^. 


jv  1. 


1889-90. 

Bolivars. 
Liverpool  .  .20,580,425.00 

Iljiniburg  .  .19,580,550.00 

Iljivre 0,708,075.00 

St.  Nazaire.  8,184,079.:^7 

Bordeaux..  3,814,741.00 

Barceloime.  1,896,134.00 

New  York  .23,460,390.01 

London 867,026.00 

Total 


Bolivars. 
Port  Spain..  1,637, 40 1.00 

Malaga 927,493.00 

Genoa 499,482.00 


Leghorn  ... 
Swansea  ... 
Glasgow  ... 

CardilT 

Teueriff e  . . 


33,870.00 

48,583.51 

57,000.00 

136.480.00 

122,081.00 


B.  83,614,411.49. 

Experts  The  increase  of  exports  from  Venezuela  from  the 

year  1873  to  1890  is  in  proportion  to  the  imports  in 
the  same  period. 

To  give  an  idea  of  sucli  increase  some  figures  are 
submitted  referring  to  previous  years : 

Tears.  Bolivars. 

1830  to  1831 8,676,829.45 

1834  to  1835 13,308,357.10 

1839  to  1840.... 23,755,510.30 

1844  to  1845. 22,368,635.05 

1849  to  1850. 23,957,205.35 

1854  to  1855 27,467,451.95 

1859  to  1860 34,514,595.40 

1864  to  1865.... 33,398,358.90 

1873  to  1874 73,918,122.05 

The  articles  exported  for  foreign  countries  and 
their  values  during  tlie  years  1888-89  and  1889-90, 
are  given  in  the  folloving  list. 


Coiree 

Cocoa 

Hides 

Deer-skins 

Goat-skins 

Cotton 

Indigo 

Quina 

Dividive  pods 

Tobacco,  leaf  and  /naiiiifactur'd 

Starch I 

Panela  &  papel on  (brrwn  sugar) 

Tinctorial  woods. . ./ 

"Woods,  different  kilids 


1888-1889. 


B. 


70,293,410 

9,757,427 

2,500,572 

298,536 

2,132,501 

150,211 

12,268 

163,687 

331 ,437 

107.687 

26,088 

131,812 

309,020 

162.821 


1889-1890. 


B.  71,167,850 

9,329,396 

2,432,267 

333,740 

1,962,067 

71,181 

7,774 

126,323 

489,826 

243,872 

11,648 

125,665 

426,526 

136,713 


22 


THE   UNITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 


Rushes,  differeut  kinds 

Rubber 

Horns   

Fish-glue 

Bait 

Cocoanut 

Bananas   

Fruits   

Spirits  and  alcohol 

Living'  ])lants 

St\iffed  birds 

Salt  13sh 

Beans 

Live  cattle   

Goats  and  sheep 

Horses 

Donkeys 

Mules 

Cheese 

Gold  and  silver  coin 

Gold  ore  and  melted 

Clay  gold 

Sarrapia  (Tonka  beans) 

Sabadil 

Siniaruba  l)ark  y 

Copper  oi-es  android  copper 
Tiger-skins  . 

Candies  of  sevei^l  classes 
Chocolate  ... 

Sugar 

Asphalt 

Bricks 

Onoto  (arnatto  see(ip) 

Aloes 

Wool  

Sole  leather. 
Balsam  of  copaiba. 

Cocoanut  oil 

Sarsa  pari  11a 

Feathers 

Sea  shells. -- 

Resins  of  several  kinds 

Bones 

Corn 

Cogollo  (bleached  ]>alni  or\rrass 
leaves  for  hat-plait iim). 

Chalk [.. 

Pot-herbs 

EartluMiware 

Turtles 

(iuartz 

Orangc-iieels 

Different  produce 


1 888-1889. 


B.     4,823 

326,844 

26,356 

57,680 

11,616 

81,618 

31,500 

6,487 

2.493 

14,057 

13,600 

11,600 

2,856 

1,213,480 

210 

49,900 

46,900 

26,270 

8,532 

1,806,301 

2,522,485 

149,242 

189,087 

5,041 

9,359 

8,806,418 

1,010 

976 

24,731 

2,289 

2,035 

3,274 

7,668 

1,600 

1,560 

4,564 

196,536 

176 

1,040 

3,000 

3,425 

2,781 

840 

4,780 

8,800 

8.452 

829 

600 

880 

1,330 

1,151 

181,745 


B.  97,262,254    B.  100,917,302 


1889-1890. 


B.     1,776 

274,716 

13,468 

47,986 

8,760 

48,426 

43,416 

5,227 

3,184 

15,726 

11,900 

5,160 

13,652 

1,176,000 

680 

80,600 

82,528 

6^886 

589,599 

8,888,428 

183.154 

442.721 

7,840 

4,715 

1,971,939 

1,504 

1,330 

18,172 

100 

559 

1,880 

4,750 

500 

490 

7,569 

120,199 

45 

400 

17,828 

8,761 

6,588 

6,488 

7,782 

4.659 

8. 070 

4(56 

:{t;o 

920 

140 

678 

18,740 


WOIvI.d's   COLUMHIAN   EXrOSITION".  23 

Mail  Service.  ^^l  ^^^^  sections  of  the  country  are  communicated 
with  through  roguhir  mails,  and  the  periodicity  of 
these  is  dependent  on  tlie  hmd  roads  or  the  naviga- 
tion of  the  sea  and  rivers  which  open  them  to  travel- 
ing. All  inland  points  distant  from  seas  and  rivers 
are  communicated  with  by  foot  or  horse  posts  with 
the  nearest  stations  opened  to  steamers  or  railroads. 

Telegraphs.  The  extent  of  the  telegraphic  web  is  6,378  kilometers 

and  144  meters  (3,900  miles)  and  the  number  of  the 
telegraph-oflfices  is  11;2.  The  capital  city  is  connected 
with  all  the  States  of  the  Repuljlic  and  with  Europe 
and  the  United  States  by  a  sea  cable  laid  from 
La  Guaira  via  the  West  Indies. 

Telephones.  There  are  two  telephone  companies  with  offices  in 

Caracas,  La  Guaira,  Yaler.cia  and  Porto  Cabello/Anti- 
mano,  Maracaibo,  El  Valle,  and  Sabana  Grand^.  It  is 
also  proposed  to  have  them  established  a*  Ciudad 
Bolivar,  San  Cristobal  and  Rubio,  State  of  ^os  Andes, 
and  Secciou  Tiichira. 

Navigation.  Five  steamship  lines  ply  along  the  Veirt^znelan  coasts 

and  through  the  risers.  The  steams/iips  Maracaibo 
and  Mcrida  run  to  Joro,  Maracaibo,/nd  Curazao,  con- 
necting in  this  ishuid  with  the  An/rican  steamers  of 
the  Ked  D  Line. 

One  line  run?  between  Po/o  Cabello,  La  Guaira, 
Trinidad,  and  iutermediat/ points,  and  another 
between  Carenco  and  Pio^iico. 

The  Company  navigating  between  Ciudad  Bolivar 
and  Port  Spaii  makesij/so  trips  to  San  Fernando,  El 
Baul,  Camagu'in,  anclAntrias,  when  the  Apure  River 
is  navigable,"  (hiaJre  aiul  Socorro  arc  two  steam- 
ships makini  the  sfiie  trips  and  also  to  Arauca. 

El  Pro'ircHo  iiUilEJ  Frilxinfc  run  between  Mara- 
caibo. Lii  Ceiba,  Cf3u,  and  Eucontrados. 


24  THE  UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

Porto  Cabello  and  Tucacas  are  connected  by  a 
steamboat  line. 

Two  tow-boats  and  a  sailing  sliip  are  employed  by 
pilots  in  Maracaibo. 

Roads  and  The  country  is  crossed  by  wagon-roads  in  all  direc- 

RailwayS.  tions.  The  railways  already  finished  have  an  exten- 
sion of  234  miles  and  connect  the  following  points: 
Caracas  and  La  Giiaira;  Caracas  and  El  Valle;  Porto 
Cabello  and  Valencia;  Maiquetia and  Macuto ;  Guanta 
and  Barcelona;  La  Lnz  El  llacha  and  Barquisimeto; 
Carenero  and  San  Jose,  and  Ceiba  and  Sabana  de 
Mendoza. 

Other  important  roads  in  course  of  construction 
are:  The  Central  Railwa}^,  which  has  a  concession  to 
build  a  road  from  Caracas  to  Valencia,  via  Santa 
Lucia  and  Cua. 

The  Grand  E^ilroad  of  Venezuela  is  constructing  a 
road  from  Caracas  to  Valencia  and  San  Carlos,  State 
of  Zamora,  whichVill  pass  through  the  fertile  Aragua 
valleys,  called  thc\Venezuela  garden. 

Other  companiW  have  been  incorjoorated,  and 
H  is  expected  tliaf  they  will  soon  commence  to 
biild. 

Immigration.  I^^  order  to  promo\c  immigration  the  Venezuelan 
Govcimnent  has  established  abroad  four  Information 
Bureau;  in  the  followmg  cities:  Bordeaux,  France; 
Antwerp,  Belgium ;  Saytander,  Spain;  Las  Palmas, 
Canary  K'nnds.  TwoWricultural  colonies  were 
founded  in  1-^74;  one  culVd  Indopcndencia,  is  located 
south  of  the  '1  ly  Kiver,  in  tlie  middle  of  the  Guarico 
and  Bolivar  districts,  in  Wio  State  of  Miranda;  the 
other  called  Boli  ar  colon\  is  situated  near  Guatire, 
aiul  owns  lands  watred  by  tli^  Araira  river  of  extraor- 
dinary fertility  in  tie  lowlands  as  well  as  the  high- 
lands. Both  colonic  li.ive  succeeded  well  and  thrive 
uninterruptedly.  \ 


world's  columrian  exposition.  25 

Immigration  Laws.  By  the  imniigrution  liiws  of  Veiieziielu,  the  trans- 
portation expenses  of  immigrants  are  paid  by  tlie 
Government  from  the  time  they  leave  their  country 
till  their  final  location.  A  lot  of  vacant  land  is 
allowed  to  each  immigrant,  and  the  right  to  purchase 
at  lialf  the  price  established  by  law  any  puljlic  lands 
which  he  may  wish  to  buy.  A  2)eriod  of  two  years  is 
granted  for  the  payment  of  said  lands.  All  immigra- 
tion contracts  made  by  the  Venezuelan  Consuls  abroad 
are  submitted  to  the  Government  for  approval. 

Vacant  Lands.  By  official  statistics  the  vacant  lands  in  the  agri- 
cultural section  of  Venezuela  are  estimated  at  140,471) 
square  miles,  while  the  grazing  lands  contain  93,213 
square  miles. 

All  applicants  for  vacant  lands  engage  to  have 
ploughed  and  under  cultivation  three  years  after  their 
purchase  at  least  half  of  their  extent.  In  the  case  of 
grazing  lands  for  stock-raising  they  ought  to  be  occu- 
pied one  year  after  the  grant.  The  sale  is  made  fol- 
lowing the  legal  appraisement  and  the  price  is  paid 
at  the  office  of  Public  Credit. 

Weights  and  I'lie  metrical  system  for  weights  and  measures  has 

Measures,     l^een  established  by  law. 

Monetary  System.  'J-'lie  monetary  unit  of  Venezuela  is  the  bolivar, 
corresponding  to  the  Spanish  peseta  or  F^snch  franc, 
and  is  equal  to  0.1923  of  the  American  dollar.  The 
gold  pieces  are  100,  25,  and  20  bolivars,  and  the  silver 
pieces  of  5, 2^,  2, 1,  ^,  and  ^  bolivars.  The  circulation 
of  foreign  moneys  as  legal  tender  is  prohibited,  and 
they  are  considered  only  as  merchandise  without  fixed 
value.  The  American  20-dollar  gold  piece  is  quoted 
at  104  bolivars  and  its  fractions  proportionately. 

Banks.  The  two  l)anks  which  issue  bills  in  Venezuela  are 

private  institutions,  and  their  notes  circulate  at  par 
value. 


26  THE    UNITED    STATES    OF   VENEZUELA. 

PreSSo  Newspapers  are  published  in  all  the  principal  cen- 

ters of  23opulation.  Most  of  them  are  of  a  political 
character.  There  are  some  scientific,  literary,  mer- 
cantile, illustrated,  and  religious  periodicals.  The 
total  number  of  publications  is  250. 

Public  Libraries.  The  National  Library  has  32,000  volumes.  The 
Medical  Library  of  the  Central  University  owns  2,400 
volumes.  The  library  of  the  Venezuelan  Academy 
has  collected  2,000  volumes  on  Languages,  History, 
and  General  Literature.  All  these  libraries  are  located 
in  the  city  of  Caracas. 

In  other  sections  of  the  Republic  as  Valencia, 
Maracaibo,  Bolivar  City,  Miranda,  and  Falcon,  the 
public  libraries  are  well  provided. 

National  T^^<^     National     Museum    is    divided    into    three 

Museum,  branches.  The  Bolivar  branch  preserves  all  objects, 
mementoes,  and  documents  relating  to  the  Liberator, 
Simon  Bolivar.  The  second  branch  is  devoted  to 
National  History;  and  the  third  is  a  Museum  of  Natu- 
ral History, 

iStfOnomicaJ  The  Astronomical  and  Meteorological  Observatory 
Observatory.  ^^  provided  with  all  instruments  pertaining  to  this 
kind  of  institutions,  and  is  in  correspondence  with 
the  European  and  American  Observatories.  Its  serv- 
ices have  been  appreciated  abroad  on  account  of  the 
geographical  and  climatologic  conditions  of  its  loca- 
tion. 

GoVarnrnent  and  The  Government  of  Venezuela  is  Republican  and 
Civil  InstitU-  Federal.  The  Nation  is  divided  into  nine  large  States, 
tions.  ^'^^  Federal  District,  and  live  Territories.  I'he 
national  institutions  insure  to  all  the  inhabitants, 
natives  as  well  as  foreigners,  the  safety  of  their  lives; 
respect  for  tlieir  pro]ierty,  with  all  its  safeguards; 
privacy  for  their  correspondence;  security  for  their 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  27 

homes,  which  caniiot  be  transgressed  except  to  pre- 
vent a  crime;  personal  freedom  for  their  thoughts  or 
writings;  religious  and  traveling  liberties;  rights  of 
petition,  association,  industry,  and  suffrage. 

The  nopuhir  instruction  is  compulsory  and  free  of 

charge. 

The  Legislative  power  is  represented  by  the  Con- 
gress, which  is  divided  into  a  Senate  and  a  Chamber 
of  Deputies.  The  Senate  is  formed  by  three  Seiuitors 
from  each  State,  who  are  cliosen  for  four  years.  One 
Deputy  is  apportioned  to  every  35,000  inhabitants, 
or  to  any  fraction  exceeding  15,000,  and  they  are  also 
chosen  for  four  years. 

The  Congress  comprises  twenty-seven  Senators  and 
fifty-three  Deputies.  They  convene  in  Caracas  every 
year  on  the  20th  of  February,  and  to  each  legislative 
period  are  assigned  seventy  days,  which  may  be 
extended  for  twenty  additional  days. 

The  Executive  poAver  is  vested  in  the  President  of 
the  Republic  and  his  Ministers.  The  President 
attends  to  the  enforcement  of  the  laws.  The  Presi- 
dential term  was  two  years  by  the  last  Constitution. 

At  present,  while  the  National  Assembly  is  revising 
the  national  institutions,  the  Presidency  is  temporarily 
committed  to  the  Executive  Chief,  Gen.  Joaquin 
Crespo,  the  leader  of  the  last  movement,  which  was 
sustained  by  the  whole  Republic,  and  overthrew  the 
rule  of  a  faithless  President.  The  Executive  Gov- 
ernment of  Venezuela  is  now  composed  of  the  follow- 
ing personnel: 

Chief  of  the  National  Executive.— 

Gen.  Joaquin  Crespo. 
Mmisters :  Interior.— Gt.^.  Leon  Colina. 
Foreifjn  Affairs.— VvAnw  Ezequiel  Rojas. 
Finances.'— (jE^.  Jose  Antonio  Velutini. 
Fuhlic  Advancement.— IjEOVOhm  Baptista. 
Public  Instruction.— Ges.  Ignacio  Andrade. 
War  and  Navy.—G^^.  Manuel  Guzman  Alvarez, 


38  THE    UNITED    STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

Public  Warier. — Jesus  Munoz  Tebar. 

Governor  of  the  Federal  District. — Antonio  Ra- 

MELLA. 

The  Judiciary  Branch  is  composed  of  the  High 
Federal  Courts  and  the  Corte  of  Casacion,  or  Court 
of  Appeals,  which  is  the  Court  of  the  States.  Justice 
is  also  administered  in  all  the  States  of  the  Union  by 
other  Courts  and  the  municipal  judges. 

HiStOriCHi  Brief.  Venezuela  was  the  country  first  discovered  on  the 
South  American  Continent  by  Christopher  Columbus 
on  August  1,  1498,  during  his  third  voyage.  The 
war  waged  by  the  Spaniards  to  subjugate  the  natives 
lasted  forty  years.  When  they  were  overpowered  and 
the  City  of  Caracas  founded,  the  Captaincy-General 
of  Venezuela  continued  for  two  hundred  and  forty 
years  under  the  Spanish  Crown,  and  the  country  was 
governed  by  Captain- Generals  appointed  by  the 
Spanish  kings. 

In  180G,  General  Francisco  Miranda,  at  the  head  of 
a  patriotic  group,  landed  in  Coro  and  raised  the  flag 
of  Indeiiendence.  After  several  bloody  encounters 
the  independent  followers  were  vanquished,  but  their 
failing  did  not  choke  down  the  national  aspirations 
for  independence. 

On  April  10,  1810,  the  City  of  Caracas  witnessed  a 
daring  movement  for  national  freedom.  On  July  5, 
1811,  the  Act,  or  Declaration,  of  Independence  was 
signed  in  the  same  city,  and  by  it  the  United  Pro- 
vinces of  Venezuela  erected  themselves  into  an  inde- 
pendent Republic.  Diii'ing  the  next  ten  years  a 
bloody  and  incessant  war  existed  until  in  1821  the 
Liberator,  Simon  IJolivar,  the  genius  of  South  Ameri- 
can Independence,  crowned  his  preceding  triumjjhs 
with  the  Carabobo  battle,  which  was  fought  in  the 
plains  bearing  the  last  name.  Tlie  royalist  army  was 
completely  routed  and  the  independence  of  the 
Republic  sealed. 


world's  COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  29 

The  reniiKiiit  of  the  Spaiiisli  aniiics  in  Veneziiehi 
were  coiujiiered  in  18'^3  tit  Porto  Oabello,  and  obliged 
to  leave  tlie  country  by  General  Jose  Antonio  Paez. 
By  the  treaty  of  peace,  signed  at  Madrid  in  18-45,  the 
Government  of  S^iain  formally  acknowledged  the 
independence  of  the  Republic. 

Controversy  of  it  is  not  out  of  place  to  state  here  that  for  a  long 
Limits  with  time  there  has  existed  between  Great  Britain  and 
England.  Venezuela  a  dispute  about  territorial  limits.  Venezuela 
has  not  ceased  to  ask  for  the  arbitration  of  friendly 
Powers  to  settle  satisfactorily  for  both  nations  this 
protracted  controversy.  Though  no  solution  has  so 
far  been  arrived  at,  it  is  certainly  to  be  hoped  that  it 
will  come  with  honor  and  justice  to  both  parties, 
because  their  recij^rocal  rights  repose  on  historical 
facts  which  may  be  easily  verified. 

Regular   Steam-     The  Royal  Mail  steamshij^s  from  Southampton  visit 
ship  Lines     the  port  of  La  Guaira  fortnightly,  and  return  thence 

between       to  Trinidad. 

Venezuela,         The  British   Harrison  Line  and  West  India   and 

Europe,  and    Piicific  Line  jointly  dispatch  one  steamship  per  week 

the  United     from  Liverpool  for  the  West  Indies,  touching  at  La 

States.       Guaira  and  Puerto  Cabello,  and  returning  to  England 

via  New  Orleans. 

The  Hamburg- American  Line  dispatches  a  steam- 
ship semi-monthly  from  Hamburg  for  the  West 
Indies,  touching  at  La  Guaira  and  Puerto  Cabello, 
and  usually  returning  to  Europe  via  Sabanilla, 
Colombia. 

The  Spanish  Transatlantic  Company  dispatches  one 
steamship  per  month  from  Xew  York,  touching  at 
La  Guaira  and  Puerto  Cabello,  and  returning  to  Xew 
York  via  Colon  and  Havana.  Another  ship  is  dis- 
patched monthly  from  Spain  for  Colon  that,  going 
and  returning,  touches  at  La  Guaira  and  Puerto 
Cabello. 


30  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

The  Xctberlands  Eoyal  Mail  Company  dispatches 
one  steamer  monthly  from  Amsterdam  via  Dutch 
Guiana,  touching  at  Carupano,  Cumana,  La  Guaira, 
and  Puerto  Cabello,  and  returning  to  Europe  via 
XcAV  York.  Another  steamer  is  dispatched  monthly 
via  New  York,  touching  at  La  Guaira,  Puerto  Cabello, 
Cumana,  Carupano,  and  returning  thence  via  Dutch 
Guiana  to  Amsterdam. 

The  French  Transatlantic  Company  dispatches 
two  steamslii2:)s  per  month  from  St.  Nazaire,  France, 
via  Martinique,  touching  at  La  Guaira  and  Puerto 
Cabello  on  the  voyage  to  Colon,  whence  the  ship 
returns  and  calls  at  the  same  ports  on  the  home 
voyage.  This  line  also  dispatches  one  steamship  per 
month  from  Marseilles,  touching  at  Carupano,  La 
Guaira,  and  Puerto  Cabello,  on  the  voyage  to  and 
from  Colon. 

The  Thebaud  Line  of  New  York  dispatches  one 
steamship  monthly  from  New  York,  touching  at 
Carupano  and  Ciudad  Bolivar,  and  returning  thence 
to  New  York. 

One  steamship  per  month  leaves  Havre,  touching  at 
La  Guaira  and  Puerto  Cabello  en  route  to  Curazao, 
and  calling  at  the  same  i)orts  on  the  return  voyage. 

The  xVmerican  steamships  of  the  Red  D  Line  leave 
New  York  every  ten  days  and  touch  at  the  ports  of 
Curazao,  Puerto  Cabello,  and  La  Guaira,  both  going 
and  returning.  Branch  steamers  of  this  line  make 
semi-weekly  trips  between  Curazao  and  Maracaibo, 
and  between  Curazao  and  C/oro,  transferring  pas- 
sengers and  cargo  to  and  from  the  ships  of  the  main 
line. 


9l^«i^ 


Medal  coined  by  order  of  the  ( lovernment  of  Venezuela  to  commemorate  the 

four  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  Discovery  of  America,  and  the 

concurrence  of  the  Republic  to  the  NVorld's 

C'ohnnbian    l-".\hil)ilion. 


A 


Descriptive  Catalogue 


OF    THE    OBJECTS    SENT    BY     THE 


UNITED  STATES  OF  VENEZUELA 


TO    THE 


World's  Columbian  Exposition 


AND    EXHIIJITEL)    IN    THE 


VENEZUELAN    BUILDING 


Jackson  Park,  (1iica<^o. 


Descriptive   Catalogue. 


DEPAUTMENT   A. 
Agriculture,  Forest  Products,  and  Forestry. 

group  1 — class  2.  ixdtax  corn. 

to  4.  MAIZE  OR  INDIAN  CORN.  Tlie  exhibit  shows  only  four  varie- 
ties: Maiz  vdllero,  3Iaiz  toigiieragua,  Maiz  cariaco,  Maiz  ainarillo ; 
but  there  are  about  lialf  a  dozen  more  in  eullivation  in  tlie  country, 
samples  of  Avliii-li,  however,  could  not  be  obtained  in  time.  Tiie  Maiz 
tengueragna  XvA^i'^  iowv  mim\\\)^  to  get  ripe,  but  it  gives  the  best  crop, 
and  can  l')e  kept  longer.  The  Muizvallero  is  rii)e  wilhin  three  mouths, 
however  the  grain  is  not  very  compact  and  does  not  keep  well.  The 
Maiz  carmco,  finally,  ripens  likewise  in  three  months,  and  is  generally, 
though  without  good  reason,  believed  to  be  more  nourisliing  than  the 
other  varieties. 

From  otiicial  returns,  there  are  about  20,000  liectares  of  land  (about 
50,000  acres)  given  over  to  the  ciUtivation  of  corn,  and  the  total  amount 
of  produce  is  believed  to  be  120,000,000  kilogr.  There  are  two  crops 
every  year,  one  in  summer  (dr\'  season),  the  other  in  winter  (rainy  sea- 
son), this  latter  l)eing  the  more  abundant  of  the  two. 

Mai/e  may  Ix;  grown  in  every  kind  of  soil  from  the  level  of  the  .sea 
upwards  to*2,S00  metres,  though  it  grows  best  between  500  and  1,000 
metres.  Its  cultivation  is  very  easy;  but  occasionally  the  seed  is  lost 
several  times,  us  a  conse(iuence  of  unfavourable  weather.  Tlie  plant  suf- 
fers comi>aratively  little  from  enemies:  the  smut  {urecJo  maydis)  is  rare, 
but  several  species  of  birds  do  some  damage  to  the  ripe  ears.  The 
writer  has  had  au  opportunity  to  examine  a  sample  of  Venezuelan  maize, 
weighing  as  nmch  as  SO  kilogr.  ju-r  hectoliter,  which  is  more,  I  believe, 
than  the  average  weight  of  Pennsylvania  corn. 

Maize  is  to  a  verv  large  extent  the  true  l)read -plant  of  Venezuela, 
especially  in  the  interior  of  the  countiy.  Tt  is  scarcely,  if  at  all,  used 
for  making  corn-meal;  but  the  grains,  after  having  been  soaked  in  water 
and  pounded  in  a  wooden  mortar  (called  piJiiU),  so  that  the  hard  shell 
comes  off,  are  used  for  preparing  little  round  loaves,  called  arejxts, 
which  are  eaten  warm. 

The  maize  plant  is  also  cultivated  as  green  fodder  (called  malojo)  for 
horses  and  nudes,  and  is  cut  as  soon  as  the  terminal  male  iutloresceucc 
has  appeared.' 


'  T'iiles8  stnfi'd  otliorwisi-.  tin-  ;iiii<lis   iii<nii<.iM(l  in  this  cataloyiie  were  exhiJ)iU'(I  by  tiie 
Goverumcut  of  Veuezueia 


34  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

GROUP   2 — CLASS   16.    STAKCir   AND   ITS   MANrFACTURE   FROM   ALL   SOURCES. 

5.  MAIZE-STARCH  {Zea  Mays).     Prepared  from  the  variety  called  Maiz 

cariaco,  Avliich  yields  about  60  per  cent,  of  starch. 

6.  APIO-STARCH  (ArracacJia  esciilenta).     The  plant  -which  goes  in  Vene- 

zuela by  the  name  of  Apio,  l)ek)ngs  to  the  family  of  imibelliferfe,  and 
looks  very  much  like  celery,  which  accounts  for  the  name  {Ajyio  in 
Spanish  n'leans  celery).  It  is  a  native  of  the  South  American  Andes, 
and  ui-o\vs  only  in  heiuhts  from  1,500  meters  upwards.  It  is  a  biennial 
plant;  in  the  tirst  year  the  large  fleshy  root  only  develops  a  number  of 
radical  leaves,  whilst  in  the  second  year  a  tall  stem  grows  up,  bearing 
the  tlowers.  As  in  this  growth,  however,  the  mealy  substance  of  the 
root  is  used  vip,  the  latter  is  dug  out  l)efore  the  stem  appears.  The 
fleshy  root  is  of  a  yellow^  color,  and,  when  boiled,  very  palatable.  It 
contains  from  20  to  22  per  cent,  of  starch,  besides  a  sweetish  juice, 
which  yields  good  alcohol. 

7  CHIGA-STARCH  {Campsiandra  comosa).  Upper  Apure,  Aranca,  Meta, 
Orinoco.  The  starch  is  extracted  from  the  seeds  and  used  as  bread- 
stulf.     (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas.) 

8.  LAIREN-STARCH.     The   tuberculous  roots  of  Galathea  allouya,  look- 

ing very  much  like  small  potatoes,  are  eaten  after  having  been  boiled, 
and  contain  about  23  per  cent,  of  a  most  beautiful  starch. 

9.  MANDIOCA-STARCH  {Mdnihot  utilissima,  called  Yuca  in  Venezuela). 

Tliei-e  arc  two  varieties:  Yuca  duke  and  Yuca  amarga.  The  latter 
contains  a  very  poisonous  juice,  which  nuist  be  got  rid  of  by  pressure 
after  the  root  is  ground.  It  contains  about  15  per  cent,  of  starch,  which 
is  sold  at  $6  to  %1  the  hundredweight. 

ID.  MANDIOCA-STARCH.     Exhib.  Govt,  of  the  State  of  Bermudez. 

11.  MAPUEI-STARCH  (Dioscorea  trifida).     There  are  two  varieties:  Ma- 

pnei  hhitivo  and  Mnpuei  morado,  according  to  the  interior  of  the  roots, 
which  is  white  in  the  former,  and  of  a  nmrrey  color  in  llie  latter.  The 
boiled  roots  are  much  used  instead  of  potatoes,  and  are,  indeed,  of  a 
very  good  taste. 

12.  OCUMO-STARCH  {Colocaaia  eacidenta).     The  tubercles  of  (lie  rhi/om 

contain  about  :?()  percent,  of  starch,  and  wiien  boiled  taste  like  some 
inferior  kinds  of  potatoes. 

13.  POTATO-STARCH.     Potatoes  grow  well  in  most  parts  of  Venezuela, 

farmers  using  generally  German  or  French  seed.  They  suiTer.  however, 
occasionally  from  blight,  and  the  amount  grown  is  by  far  not  sutticient 
for  consuniptlon,  so  that  every  year  a  considerable  quantity  of  potatoes 
is  imported,  especially  from  Germany  and  France. 

14.  PLANTAIN-FLOUR  {Musa paradisiaca), 

15.  YAMS-STARCH  {Dioscorea  alata).    The  roots  contain  18  per  cent,  of 

starch,  together  with  a  large  amount  of  mucilage. 

16.  SWEET   POTATO   STARCH  {Batata  cdulis).     Tiie  sweet  potato  is 

extensively  cultivated;  il  contains  from  15  to  20  per  cent,  of  starch,  and 
5  to  7  per  cent,  of  glucose. 

17.  YURUMA-STARCH  iUom  M((in'iti((  fle,vuosa).  Exhib.  by  the  Governor 

ol  the  Territory  "  Delta  del  Orinoco." 


world's    rOLUMBTAX    EXPOSTTIOX.  35 

cJHour  ;5—sr(JAi{s— CLASS  18.  cane-sugar. 

i8.  REFINED  CANE-SUGAR.  The  cultivation  of  sugar-cane  is  one  of 
the  most  iinpDilanl  braiulies  of  i-iiral  iiiduslry  in  Venezuchi,  especial!}'' 
in  the  warmer  parts  of  the  country,  up  to  about  ],()()()  ni.  above  sea- 
level.  The  variety  cultivated  is  the  so-called  Otahiti  cane,  wliich  needs 
from  1()  to  IS  months  before  iti>,ets  fully  ripe.  The  juice  is  pressed  from 
the  canes  between  iron  rollers,  nutved  either  b}^  water-power  or  by 
steam,  hut  at  the  most  no  more  than  70  to  75  percent,  of  the  total  (pian- 
tity  is  obtained,  the  rest  remaining  in  the  refuse  (bagazo),  which  is 
dried  and  used  as  fuel.  The;  juice  is  either  allowed  to  ferment,  and  thus 
to  be  changed  into  a  kind  of  ordinary  hrandy,  called  aguardiente,  or 
boiled  down  to  a  certain  lliickness,  and  then  thrown  into  wooden  or 
earthen  moulds,  in  which  it  hardens  and  becomes  what  is  called  pajie- 
lou,  a  kind  of  hrown  sugar  used  all  over  the  country.  Loaves  like  those 
to  be  seen  in  our  exhibit  are  likewise  mjide  by  i)ouring  the  well-defe- 
cated juice  into  large  conical  moulds,  and  })hicing  on  the  upper  side,  as 
soon  as  the  sugar  hardens,  a  layer  of  a  certain  clayish  earth,  well  mixed 
with  some  water.  This  humidity  sinks  gradually  through  the  whole  loaf, 
taking  along  with  it  a  great  deal  of  the  impurities  contained  in  the 
sugar.  One  hectare  of  good  land  gives  about  15,000  canes,  weighing 
some  00,000  kilogr.,  and  these  should  yield  8,000  kilogr.  of  lu'own  sugar 
and  2,000  liters  of  aguardiente,  worth  together  nearly  $1,000.  The 
importation  of  foreign  sugar  is  prohibited  by  the  Venezuelan  custom 
laws. 

19.  SUGAR.     Exib.  Carlos  Sanchez  G.,  Valencia. 

20.  BROWN  SUGAR  {papelon),  from  the  plantation  Paya  in  the  State  of 

Carabobo. 

21.  MOULD  FOR  MAKING  PAPELON  or  common  raw  sugar,  Yaracuy, 

State  of  Lara. 

CLASS  26.   nONEY, 

22.  HONEY.     The  bee  kept  in  Venezuela  belongs  to  the  variety  known  as 

Api^  ligurica.  It  was  introduced  in  1850  from  the  Canary  Islands  by 
Dr.  Fernando  Bolet,  who  thus  l)ecanie  the  father  of  bee-keeping  in  the 
whole  country.  There  are,  besides,  several  wild  species  of  bees  that 
make  honey. 

23.  HONEY,  from  Cumanii. 

GROUP   5 — VEGETABLE   PRODUCTS   OF   TITE  FARM  NOT  OTHERWISE  CLASSED. — 

CLASS    82.    IJEANS. 

24.  CARAOTAS  BLANCAS  (white  ])eans). 

25.  "  PINTADAS  DE  AMARILLO  (yellow-spotted  beans). 

26.  "  NEGRAS  (black  beans). 

27.  "  PONCHAS  (soft  beans). 

28.  "  PINTADAS  (colored  beans). 

29.  GUARACAROS  PINTADOS  (colored  flat  beans). 

30.  "  BLANCOS  (white  Hat  beans). 

31.  FRIJOLES  BAYOS  (bay-colored  beans). 


3G  THE   UXITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA, 

32.  FRIJOLITOS  BLANCOS  (small  white  beans). 
33-  "  AMARILLOS  (small  yellow  beans). 

34.  TAPIRAMOS  BLANCOS. 

Most  of  these  beans  come  from  varieties  of  Phaseolus  vulgaris,  and 
the  Caraotas  negras  especially  are  one  of  the  staple  articles  of  food  all 
about  the  country.  They  were  certainly  not  introduced  by  the  Spaniards, 
save  one  or  two  varieties. 

35.  BEANS,   white  and   colored.       Exhib.    Government   of    the    State    of 

Hernuidez. 

36.  LENTEJAS.     This  name  means  literally  lentils,  but  it  is  quite  a  different 

grain.     They  are  indeed  the  seeds  of  Phaseolus  mungo,  but  not  much 
in  use. 

GROUP  38— EXTRACT  OP  BEEF. 

37.  EXTRACT  OF  BEEF  (Suciilenta  Americana),  prepared  and  exhibited 

by  Dr.  D.  Cespedes,  Caracas. 

GROUP  8 — TEA,  COFFEE,  SPICES,  HOPS,  AND  AROMATIC  AND  OLEAGINOUS 
VEGETABLE  SUBSTANCES — CLASS  45.  COFFEE,  COCOA,  CHOCOLATE. 

COFFEE.  The  bent  coffee  is  grown  in  the  tierra  templada  and  the  lower 
l)art  of  the  tierra  fria,  where  the  vegetation  is  refreshed  throughout  the 
wlu^lc  year  by  dense  and  cool  morning  togs.  Experience  lias  iiroved 
that  the  coffee-tree  thrives  best  under  the  shade  of  other  large  trees. 
For  this  purpose,  in  the  warmer  parts,  the  "sainan"  {Pitliecolobinm 
saman)  and  the  "orore  "  {Pitliecolobinm  hymeuaefoliuni)  are  used;  in 
the  temperate  belt  the  princii)al  shade-tiee  is  the  "  bucare  "  {Erytluina 
corallodendron  and  E.  mitis),  and  in  tlie  colder  region  the  coffee  tree 
is  sheltered  by  various  species  of  "guamo"  (Tnga  fastuosa,  I.  vera, 
etc.).  Of  all  tliese  shade-trees  the  bucare  is  the  best,  as  it  n\akes  a  high 
clear  trunk  with  a  ratlier  light  crown,  and  sheds  its  leaves  in  I)eceml)er 
and  January,  so  that  the  coffee-trees  get  an  abundance  of  air  and  light 
precisely  in  the  time  just  before  flowering. 

The  cotTee-tree  gives  a  first  crop  when  four  to  tive  years  old,  (-lop- 
time  beginning  generally  in  September  or  October.  On  well-nianaged 
estates  there  are  no  more  than  1,000  trees  per  fanegada  of  land  (a 
fanegada  equal  to  10,000  scpiare  varas,  or  1.78  acres).  It  may  be 
assumed  that  every  tree  yields  -'^  almiides  (7.5  liters  or  7  quarts)  of "  ber- 
ries, whicli  makes  750  ahnudes  \Mn-  fanegada.  'M  ahnudesoi  fresh  ber- 
ries make  one  (piintal  of  merchantable  coffee;  a  fanegada  produces 
therefon;  about  20  ((uiiitals  of  the  latter,  \vhi(!h,  at  the  actual  price  of 
$17  per  (luintal,  are  worth  iji^'-HO,  one-half  at  least  of  this  amount  being- 
net  profit. 

Tlie  ripe  coffee-berries  look  very  much  like  small  cherries,  and  grow 
in  clustci's  clos(^  to  tht;  bases  of  the  leafstalks.     After  being  picked,  they 
are  thrown  into  the  de.srerazttdor  or  coffee-pulpei".  in  order  to  take  otf  the 
tlesliy  outer  part.      This  is  done  by  pushing  the  fruits  througli  a  wedge 
shaped  slit  against  a  rotary  (ylinder  sheathed  with  a  plate  of  coi>p<r 
AvMiich  has  a  great  number  of  little  blunt  bosses.     After  this  manipula 
tion   the  fruits  are  left  for  about  twenty-four  hours  in  a  tank  of  brick 
work  with  water,  where  the  beginning  fermentation  helps  to  wash  them 
more  perfectly,  and  then   they  are  spread  out    to  dry  on  a  large  court. 
cither  puved  ^vith  bricks  or  made  very  smooth  with  mortar.     Wlwu 


world's  columbtax  kxpostttox.  37 

perfectly  dry,  they  arc  taken  to  the  irilla,  wliich  consists  of  a  heavy 
wood  or  stone  wheel,  moved  either  by  water-power  or  by  animal  force, 
and  running  in  a  circidar  bed  or  channel,  wherein  the  parchment-like 
shell-covering  of  the  grains  is  crushed  and  broken,  sothat  theclcan  grains 
can  afterward  l)e  separated  from  the  chalf,  b}'  means  of  the  venteador  or 
fanning-machine. 

C'otTee  prepared  in  the  manner  described  is  called  cafe  descerezado 
(wasjied  colfee),  whilst  cafe  tn'ilddo,  which  is  of  an  inferior  (juality,  is 
made  by  drying  the  l)erries  without  their  tleshy  pulp  being  taken  off 
tirst,  and  then  crushing  the  husk  in  the  irilla. 

In  tirst-class  coffee  the  grains  ought  to  be  of  eqnal  size,  light-greenish 
color,  and  liave  a  special  and  pleasant  aroma  ;  they  should,  moreover, 
be  all  of  the  same  color  after  being  roasted.  All  these  properties  are 
combined  in  coffee  from  Venezuela,  which,  therefore,  unquestionably 
belongs  to  the  very  best  kinils  of  this  article  known  in  commerce. 

Coffee  is  to-day  the  most  important  product  of  Venezuelan  agricul- 
ture, and  will  certainly  continue  to  hold  its  prominent  rank,  so  much 
the  more  so  as  the  culture  of  the  tree  is  comparativel}'  easy,  and  not 
exposed  to  any  great  hazards  from  the  attacks  of  injurious  animals  and 
parasitic  diseases.  Of  the  latter  there  are  two,  though  neither  frequent 
nor  ver}"^  damaging  ;  one  is  called  mancha  de  hierro  (i.  e.  iron  rust),  due 
to  the  ravages  of  the  larva  of  a  microlepidopterous  insQCt  (Cemiofstoma 
coffeellum  ;  the  other  is  known  under  the  name  of  candelillo  {i.  e.  little 
fire),  and  is  produced  by  the  growth  of  a  fungus  {Pellicularia  Koleroga) 
on  the  under  side  of  the  leaves,  which  die  in  consequence  and  look  as  if 
they  had  been  scorched  by  fire. 

Venezuela  owes  the  introduction  of  coffee  culture  to  D.  Jose  Antonio 
]\[ohedano,  1784,  at  that  time  parish  priest  of  Chacao(near  Caracas),  and 
afterwards  Bishop  of  Guiana.  The  first  shipments  were  made  in  1789 
from  La  Guaira,  and  amoimted  to  283  (juintals.  To-day  the  exportation 
is  of  1,000,000  quintals,  and  the  total  produce  is  calculated  to  be  at  least 
1,800,000  quintals.  Prices  have  fluctuated  very  much  :  in  May, 
1874,  they  reached  in  Caracas  their  maximum  ($2o  per  quintal  of  100 
Spanish  pounds  of  washed  coffee)  ;  in  1S88  they  went  down  to  %1  for 
the  same  ;  actually  they  are  in  Caracas  .^^17  for  washed  coffee  and  about 
two  dollars  less  for  triWidos.  Most  of  the  coffee  from  Venezuela  is 
shipped  to  Germany  (H;;mburg)  and  France  (Bordeaux  and  Havre). 
Not  long  ago  a  considerable  quantit}'  was  also  sent  to  the  United  States, 
and  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  the  circumstances  which  for  the  moment  are 
interrupting  this  branch  of  connnerce  may  soon  disappear  for  the  benefit 
and  in  the  true  interests  of  both  countries. 

A  List  of  the  Samples  of  Coffee  exhibited,  with  short  notes  on  the  plantations  where 

grown. 

{Tierrn  cnliente  is  the  zone  or  belt  from  sea-level  up  to  000  meters,  with  a 
mean  temperature  of  25-'  C.  (77^  F.)  ;  the  iiervd  iempldda  extends  from  000  to 
1,500  meters,  and  has  at  its  upper  limit  a  mean  temperature  of  18°  C.  (04"  5  F.)  ; 
whilst  the  tierrafria  is  situated  above  this  limit.) 

38.  Coffee  exhib.  by  Santiago  Becerra. 

39.  "         "         "   Carlos  Rodriguez. 

40.  Carlos  Alberto  Urbaneja,  Plant.  Sabaneta  dc  Aguaneg^ra.  Federal  Dis- 

trict ;  ii<rr<(fi'i(i.  200,000  trees,  annua!  produce  1,000  quintals. 

41.  Tomas  Bueno,  Plant.    C;irMbol)o.  in    Turgua.   State  of  Miranda;    iierra 

templada,  200,000  trees,  annual  produce  800  quintals, 


38  THE    UNITED    STATES    OF   TEXEZUELA. 

42.  Juan   Gimenez,   Plant.    La    Concepcion,    St.  Carabobo,  20    miles  from 

Valencia  ;  annual  produce  700  quintals. 

43.  Hijos  de  Ramon  Francia,  Plant.  Santo  Cristo,  St.  Miranda,  Distr.  Sucre; 

tierrd  temjyladd,  200,000  trees,  1,500  quintals. 

44.  Anfiloquio  Level,  Plant,   of  tlie  same  name,  St.  ]\Iiranda,  Sect.  Bolivar 

(Los  Mariclies)  ;  tierrafria,  400,000  trees,  1,500  quintals. 

45.  Cirilo  Matos  e  hijo,  Plant.  Santa  Rita,  St.  Miranda  (Aragua)  ;  tierrafrin, 

40,000  trees,  GOO  quintals. 

46.  Rodulfo  Requena,  Plant.  Cliimborazo,  St.  Miranda  (Aragua)  ;  iierra  tem- 

pldda,  200,000  trees,  1,000  quintals. 

47.  Carlos  Sanchez,  G.  Plant.  Tarapio. 

48.  Julian  de  Santamaria,  Chirgua. 

49.  Justo  Gasteburena,  Plant.  Vijrrimia,  Ch.rgua. 

50.  M.  G.  Simanca,  Chirgua. 

51.  Eduardo  Granadillo,  Plant.  La  Helvecia. 

52.  Gomez  Hermanos,  Plant.  Turumo,  St.  Miranda  ;  Uerrafna,  400, 000 trees, 

GOO  quintals. 

53.  A.  Garcia  Barrios,  coffee  caracolilloii'om  the  plantations  Jesus,  Pasajeras, 

and  Naranjos,  in  the  valleys  of  Aragua.  The  name  cuntcolillo  means 
"  little  shell,"  and  alludes  to  the  round  shape  of  the  grain,  which  is  due 
to  the  circumstance  that  only  one  of  the  seeds  develops  in  the  fruit.  It 
is  often  erroneously  called  Mocka  Coffee, 

54.  Juan  M.  Rodriguez,  Plant.  La  Mata,  St.  Miranda  (Hatillo);  iierra  fria, 

400,000  trees,  800  quintals. 

55.  Gabriel   Medialdea,   Plant.    Santa  Ana  de   jVIarare,    St.    ]\[iranda.  Sect. 

Jiolivar  ;  tierra  atliente,  400,000  trees,  2,000  quintals. 

56.  A.  Garcia  Barrios,  large-grained  coffee  from  the  plantations  mentioned 

under  Ko.  53. 

57.  N.  G.  Linares,  Plant.  La  IJrbina,  St.  Miranda.  (Aragua)  ;  iierra  iemplada, 

100,000  trees,  bOO  quintals. 

58.  Hidalgo  &  Guerra,  Plant.  Los  Cedros,  St.  IMiranda  (Aragua)  ;    iierra  iem- 

plada, 120,000  trees,  1,000  quintals. 

59.  G.  VoUmer,  Plant.  El  Avila,  washed  coffee. 

59a.  "  Plant.  San  Bernardino,  Coffee  in  perfjaviino. 

60.  Juan  Parra,  Plant.  El  Carmen,  St.  Miranda  ;  iierra  iemplada,  35.000  trees, 

;>50  quintals. 

61.  Ramon  Guerra,  TMant.  Casa  Grande,   St.   iMiranda  (Aragua)  ;  tierra  iem- 

plada, <JO,000  trees,  800  quintals. 

62.  Jos6  A.  Valero  Lara,  Plant.    San  Jose  de  Figueroa,  St.  Miranda,  Sect. 

Bolivar  ;  tierra  fria,  80,000  trees,  250  to  300  quintals. 

63.  L  E.  Linares,  Plant.  Constancia,  St.  IMiranda,  Sect.  Bolivar  ;  iierra  fria, 

200,000  trees,  1,000  (juintals. 

64.  Ramon  Muro  &  Co.  Plant.  La  Maria,  St.  IMiranda,   Dist.  Suarez  ;  tierra 

fria,  100,000  trees,  500  (quintals. 

65.  Eraso  Hermanos  &  Co.,  Plant.   Las  Palomas,  St.   Miranda;    tierrafria, 

1,000,000  trees,  4,000  to  5,000  quintals. 

66.  Luis  A.  Ibarra,  Plant.  El  Cedral,  St.   IMiranda    (Turgua) ;     tierra  fria, 

:?00,000  trees,  SOO  (piintals. 

67.  Silvestre  Pacheco,  Plant.  La  Concepcion. 


"VVOELD's   rOLinrBTAX   EXPORITTOX.  39 

68.  Ulpiano  Aleman,  riant.  Las  Mercedes. 

69.  Bernardino  M.  Ruiz,  I'laiil.  Loiiua  Espana  (Nai,i::uata),  St.  Miranda,  Sect. 

Bolivar,  (ii  rid  t</iijU<u/<i  (iiu-an  temp.  72"  F.),  l."")0,()UO  fruiting  trees  and 
lOO.OOO  of  3  years  age,  l.KK)  quintals  in  1S})2. 

70.  Pablo   Ramirez,  Plant.   Valle   ]\I()rin,  St.  ]\Iiranda  (CaniataL''ua) ;    tifrra 

calu'iih.  all, 000  trees,  200  quintals. 

71.  J.  E.  Linares,  Plant.  Curuciiti,  St.lMiranda,  Sect.  Bolivar;  iierra  iemj>lmhi, 

400,0(10  trres,  2,000  to  ;],000  quintals. 

72.  Feo  Hernandez,  CofTee  tnWido,  Valle  Morin. 

73.  Gualterio  Chitty,  Plant.  San   Jose  de  la  Kncantada,    St.   Miranda,  Dist. 

Varuas  (Caravaca)  ;    lierrn  fri/t  (max.  temp.   ()0'-\   min.  40^".  mean  .")<)'-•), 
100,000  trees, 'from  100  to  800  (piinlals. 

74.  Otto  Becker  &  Co.,  Sues.,  Plant.  La  Mata,  St.  Miranda,  Dist.  Picaurte  ; 

tk'rra  ieniphuhi,  100,000  trees,  500  quintals. 

75.  Luis  Rivero,  Plant.  El  Guanabano,  Fed.  District  ;  tierrd  caliente,  100,000 

trees,  500  quintals. 

76.  Gualterio  Chitty,  Plant.  La  Julia,  St.  ^Miranda,  Di.str.  Vargas  (Carayaca); 

iierra  templadd,  95,000  trees,  from  100  to  GOO  quintals. 

77.  Victor  Rodriguez,  Plant.  La  Providencia,  St.  Miranda,  Dist.  Guaicaipuro; 

iierra  frki,  80,000  trees,  800  to  900  (piintals. 

78.  Manuel  Castillo,  Plant.  Santa  Ana,  St.  Miranda  (Aragua) ;  iierra  ieinplada, 

80,000  trees,  800  quintals. 

79.  Rodriguez    Castillo     Hermanos,     Plant.     La    Esperanza,  St.    Miranda 

(Aragua)  ;  iierra  icmplada,  150.000  trees,  1,000  quintals. 

80.  Carlos  M.  Madriz,  Plant.  Hineonada  de  Coclie,  Fed.  District  ;  iierra  iem- 

piada,  250,000  trees,  1,500  quintals. 

81.  Alejo  T.  Lozada.  , 

82.  Manuel  Felipe  Garcia,  Plant.   El   Carmen,   St.   Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar; 

iierra  fria,  ()0,000  trees,  200  to  300  (pu'ntals. 

83.  Carlos  Alberto  Urbaneja  and  Luis  Alberto  Sucre,  Plant.  El  Parnaso, 

St.  .Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar;  iierra  fria,  100,001)  trees,  8(M)  quintals. 

84.  J.  A.  Mosquera,  Plant.  La  Guia,  Fed.  District;  iierr((  iemjilada,  100,000 

trees,  1,000  quintals. 

85.  G.  de  Laloubie,  Plant.  El  PoMe,  St.  ]\Iiranda,  Dist.  Sucre;  iierrit  iem- 

plada,  200,000  trees,  GOO  quintals. 

86.  Perfecto  Gamez,  Plant.  Sucuta,  St.  Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar;  iierra  fria, 

50,000  trees,  200  (piintals. 

87.  Juan  Diaz  Chaves,  Plant.  Caiicuao  Adentro,  Fed.  District;  iierra  fria, 

800,000  trees,  1,500  quintals. 

88.  Manuel  F.  Acevedo,  Plant.   Tovar,    St.    3Iiranda,    Sect.    Bolivar;  iitrnt 

temjylada,  100,000  trees,  500  quintals. 

89.  Gualterio  Chitty,  Plant.  La  Lola,  St.  Miranda,  Dist.  Vargas  (Carayaca); 

iierra  iei/ij>(ada,  12,000  trees,  from  30  to  100  (pnntals  (this  is  a  very  3'oung 
plantation). 

90.  Jose   Houtman,  Plant.    El   Po.sario,    St.    ^Miranda,    Scci.    Bolivar:  iierra 

calienie,  80,000  trees,  300  quintals. 

91.  Vicente  A.  Betancourt  Aramburu,  Plant.  La  Elvira,  St.  INIiranda,  Dist. 

Pvicaurte;  iirrra  iemplada,  25(;.0OO  trees.  800  to  1,000  (luintals. 

92.  Juan  B.  Mosquera,  Plant.  El  Socorro,  St,  IMiranda,   Dist.  Sucre;  iierra 

fria,  500,000  trees,  1,500  quintals. 


40  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VEXEZUELA. 

93.  M,  Bartolucci,  Plant.  La  Florentina,  St.  Bcrmiulcz,  Sect.  Cumana;  tierra 

teinpladd,  40,000  trees,  400  quintals. 

94.  Rafael  Gabalddn,  Plant.  La  Paz,  St.  Los  Andes,  (Merida);  tierra  caliente, 

20,000  trees,  19,000  kilogr. 

95.  Pedro  Villaroel,  Plant.  Santa  Ines,  St.  Bermudez,  Sect.  Cumana;  turra 

iemplada,  12,000  trees,  120  quintals. 

96.  Avelino  Briceno,   Plant.  San  Jose,  Merida;  tierra  caliente,  50,000  trees, 

1,000  quintals. 

97.  R.  Quesada,  Plant.  El  Norte,  St.  Miranda,  Dist.  Sucre;  tier)'a  iemplada, 

250,000  trees,  1,500  quintals. 

98.  Jose  M.  Santaella,  Plant.  La  Concepcion,  St.  Miranda  (Aragua);  tierra 

fria,  100,000  fruiting  trees  and  120,000  young  ones,  600  to  700  quintals. 

99.  Pedro  A.  Garcia,  Plant.  La  Trinidad,  St.  ]\Iiranda  (Aragua);  tierra  fria, 

100,000  fruiting  trees  and  50,000  young  ones,  500  quintals. 

100.  Carlos  Alberto  Urbaneja,  Plant.   Sagiiino  (Aguanegra),  Fed.  District; 

tierra  fria,  200.000  trees,  1,000  quintals. 
loi.  Luis  Ustariz,  Plant.   Santa  Ilosa,   St.   Miranda,  Pao  de  Zarate;  tierra 
tvmpltidd,  150,000  trees,  800  quintals. 

102.  Juan  Pablo  Perez,  Plant.  Jesiis,  St.  Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar;  tierra  fria, 

i;}0,000  trees,  500  (luintals. 

103.  Antonio  Rios,  Plant.  Monte  Carmelo,  Carabobo  (Montalbriu);  tierra  ter- 

plada,  800,000  trees,  8,000  quintals. 

104.  Utalis  La  Roche,  Plant.  Riucon,  St.  Carabobo,  Dist.  Puerto  Cabello; 

iieri a  caliente,  130,000  trees. 

105.  Leon  Santella,  Plant.  Agua  Clara,  St.  Bermudez,  Sect.  Cumana;  tierra 

tcmpladii,  80,000  trees,  800  quintals. 

106.  Prisco  Lare?,  Plant.  San  Antonio,  Merida,  tierra  iemplada  {temp,  from 

04°  to  70-),  50,000  trees,  750  quintals. 

107.  Federico  Salas,  Plant.  La  Florida,  jMerida;  tierra  teinplada,  52,000  trees, 

700  (]uinlals. 

108.  Blohm    &    Co.,     Coffee    in    "  pcrgamino,"   Plant.    Tiara,    St.    Miranda 

(Aiagua);  tierrti  tetiqilada,  300,000  trees,  1,200  quintals. 

COCOA. — Cocoa  (or  cacao,  as  the  name  more  properly  ought  to  be  spelled), 
from  Avhich  the  chocolate  of  commerce  is  nuide,  is  the  seed  of  a  tree 
{T/n'ohronia  CV^r*^/*^)  indigenous  to  several  countries  in  tropical  America. 
It  grows  to  an  average  height  of  18  feet  Avith  a  trunk  from  5  to  8  ineh(s 
in  diameter,  The  tree  re(|uires  for  its  full  development  a  mean  tempei- 
ature  of  25*="  to  20^  C.  (SO^  F.),  a  moist  soil,  and  a  humid  atmosphere,  and 
so  the  lands  along  the  Caribbean  coast,  bedewed  by  (he  vai)ors  rising 
from  Ihe  sea  and  iri'igated  by  the  mimerous  rivulets  that  eoursedown 
the  mountain-valleys,  are  fouiul  to  be  in  all  resi)ects  well  adapted  to  the 
prolitable  c;ultivation  of  cocoa. 

A  cocoa  i)lantation  is  laid  out  in  quite  the  same  manner  as  an  apple 
orchard.  No  particular  prepaiation  of  the  soil  is  necessary  and  no 
manures  are  applied.  One  acre  of  land  will  accomodate  about  150  trees, 
Avhieh  nuist  be  protected  from  the  sun  by  shade-trees.  Whilst  they  are 
young,  the  banana  is  used  for  this  puri)ose,  and  afterwards  a  species  of 
biic<ire  {Kri/lhrlna  ui/ihrona).  Seven  or  eight  years  alter  i)lanting  the 
cocoa  trees  begin  to  bear  two  crops  ]H'r  year,  ripening  in  June  and 
December.  The  average  age  of  the  tree  is  about  85  years,  during  which 
time  the  crop  will  yield  GOO  to  700  pounds  of  merchantable  cocoa 
annually  per  acre. 


WORLD^S   rOLrMRIAN   EXPOSTTTON".  41 

The  fruits  are  oval-sliaiud  with  longitudinal  ribs  and  similar  in 
apiH'arance  to  muskniclons.  Sonic  are  of  a  yollowish  color,  but  gener- 
ally they  assume  a  dark-rcddlsh  hue  on  ripening.  Each  fruit  contains 
some  sixt}'  or  eighty  seeds  imbedded  in  a  slimy  pulp.  After  being  taken 
out  they  are  either  cleaned  and  gradually  dVied,  or  previously  spread 
out  on  large  court-yards  covered  with  a  kind  of  red  earth  or  brick-dust, 
which  adheres  to  the  seeds  and  gives  them  their  red  color.  It  is  genei- 
ally  believed  that  cocoa  treateil  in  this  manner  keeps  longer  and  is  nuich 
less  e\i)osed  to  the  al lacks  of  insects. 

In  properly  prej^ared  cocoa  the  parchment-like  seed-coat  will  burst 
easily  when  the  grain  is  broken,  and  the  interior,  consisting  of  the 
cotyledons  or  seed-leaves,  is  of  a  uniform,  (hirk-brown  color  without  any 
whitish  spots. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  cocoa  in  cultivation,  the  two  principal 
ones  being  the  cacao  trinitario  and  the  cacao  criollo.  The  former  is  more 
vigorous,  yields  larger  crops,  and  resists  l)etter  any  unfavorable  weather 
as  well  as  the  idtacks  of  insects.  But  the  grains  are  smaller,  harder, 
and  more  flattened  than  those  of  the  cacao  criollo  and  have,  more- 
over, a  more  bitter  taste.  The  best  and  finest  cacao  criollo  comes 
especially  fn)m  the  coast  east  and  west  of  Puerto  C'abello,  though 
it  goes  in  commerce  generally  under  the  name  of  "  Caracas  ('ocoa  "  It 
is  undoul)tedly  superior  to  most  other  kinds  of  cocoa,  and  so  much 
esteemed  that  seeds  have  been  solicited  repeatedly  for  the  government 
plantations  of  cocoa  in  Ceylon,  Java,  and  other  East  Indian  islands. 

Venezuela  exports  annually  from  18  to  20  million  pounds  of  cocoa  of 
an  approximate  value  of  $2,000,000.  Most  of  the  exportation  goes  to 
Spain,  France,  and  Germany;  in  the  United  States  the  demand  is  steadily 
increasing,  in  si)ite  of  the  heavy  duty  to  be  paid.  The  use  of  cocoa  is 
indeed  becoming  everywhere  so  extensive  that  it  must  soon  be  as  uni- 
versally a  staple  article  of  consumption  as  coffee  and  tea. 

A  List  of  SamiUes  of  Cocoa  exhibited,  trit/i  short  remarks  on  the  'plantations 

mentioned. 

109.  Pablo  M.  Aurrecoechea,  Plant.  Ibarra,  State  of  Carabobo,  Sect.  Puerto 
Cabello;  1S,000  trees,  annual  produce  130  fanegas  {ix  fanega  is  equal  to 
l.G  bushels), 

no.  Pio  Acevedo,  Plant.  Acevedo,  State  of  Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar;  40,000 
trees,  oOO  fanegas. 

111.  Baldomero  Sosa,  Plant.  Santa  Clara,  State  of  Miranda  (Aragua);  30,000 

trees,  300  fanegas. 

112.  Juan  Pablo  Perez,  Plant.  Santa  Ana,  State  of  ^liranda,  Sect.  Bolivar; 

40,000  trees,  300  fanegas. 

113.  Domingo  Luciani,   Pio  Caribe,   Plantations   Santa  Kosa,   Caralal,   and 

Catuaio.  The  owner  gives  the  following  description  of  the  diirei'cnt 
classes  of  cocoa  exjiorted  by  him:  DooE,  Cocoa  Santa  Kosa,  in  its  natural 
red  color,  annual  [iroduce  0,000  to  10,000  kils.,  price  jx-r  50  kils.  !t;2s 
Venez.  currency  (the  kilogr.  is  equal  to  2.2  pounds,  the  Venez.  peso  has 
4  bolivars,  each  ec^ual  to  .1023  in  L'.  S.  currency); — DoL,  Cocoa  Santa 
Rosa,  colored  with  red  earth  from  Choroni,  18,000  to  24,000  kils.,  price 
the  same; — D,L,  Cocoa  Caratal,  in  its  natural  red  color,  48.000  to  00,000 
kils.,  price  $23; — DjL,  Cocoa  Caralal,  sliuhtlv  colored  with  red  earth 
from  Choroni,  30,000  to  4S.000  kils.,  price  $23;-I)3L,  Cocoa  Catuaro, 
colored  with  red  earth,  4S,000  ic  72,000  kils..  price  $22;— D4L.  Cocoa 
"residuo,"  in  its  natural  color,  4,800  to  7,200  kils.,  price  $18;— D5L,  the 


42  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   A'ENEZUELA. 

same  colored  witli  red  earth,  4,800  to  7,200  kils.,  price  $18.    Prices  to  be 
understood  free  of  all  charges  on  board  iu  Kio  Caribe. 

114.  Manuel  Pimentel  Otero,  Plant.  Payare,  State  of  Miranda  (Choroni); 

10,000  trees,  00  fanegas. 

115.  C.  Hellmund  &  Co.,  Plant.  Los  Caracas,  State  of  Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar; 

25,000  trees,  200  fanegas. 

116.  Cocoa  from  the  plantation  La  Vega. 

117.  L  Orsini  &  Sons,  Plantations  Tunapuy,  Pilar,  Chaguaramas,  Rincon, 

etc.,  State  of  Bermiidez  (Cardpano);  80,000  trees,  30,000  pounds  per  year. 

118.  Raimundo  Fonseca,  Plant.  Los  Monjes,  El  Deleite,  La  Fundacion,  Casa 

Grjiude,  in  the  State  of  Carabobo  (Ocuniare);  200,000  full-grown  and 
120,000  young  trees,  1,700  fanegas  (at  110  pounds  each). 

119.  Guillermo  Roo,  Plant.  San  Esteban  (Puerto  Cabello);  30,000  trees,  200  to 

250  fanegas. 

120.  Victorio  Palacio,  Plant.  La  Ascension,  State  of  Miranda,  Sect,  Bolivar; 

32,000  trees,  250  fanegas. 

121.  Jose  A.  Hernandez,  Plant.  Playa  Grande,  State  of  Miranda  (Choroni); 

50,000  trees,  400  fanegas. 

122.  Trinidad  Constantino  Arroyo,  Plant.  Mateo,   State  of  Miranda  (Cau- 

cagua);  15,000  to  20,000  trees,  60  fanegas. 

123.  Cocoa  from  Capiricual,  State  of  Bermudez,  Sect.  Barcelona. 

124.  Bernardino  M.  Ruiz,  Plant.    Longa  Espana,    State  of  Miranda,   Sect. 

Bolivar  (Naiguata);  37,000  full-grown  and  15, 000 young  trees,  250  fanegas. 

125.  Bernardino  M.  Ruiz,  Plant.  Uritapo,  State  of  Miranda,  Sect.  Bolivar; 

30, (KH)  trees,  200  fanegas. 

126.  Federico  Roo,  Plant.   Solorzano,  State  of  Carabobo  (Puerto  Cabello); 

20,000  trees.  200  fanegas.  , 

127.  Cocoa  of  Santa  Fe  (Cuniaua). 

128.  "  "  San  Filipe,  exhib.  R.  Ricart. 

129.  "  *'  Buria,  R.  liicart. 

130.  "  "  Carupano. 

131.  "  •'  RioChico. 

132.  **  **  Higuerote. 

133.  "  •'  Capaya. 

134.  '*  "  Caucagua. 

135.  CHOCOLATE.     Exhil).   Luis  Rus,    "Al  Indio,"  Caracas. 

136.  "  Exliib,  Fullie  tt  ('().,"  La  India."' Caraeas.  Wholesale 
])rices  per  Spanish  i^ound  (400  gramnu's):  Extra  Vainilla,  Bol.  3.50;  Prima 
Vainilla,  Bol.  2.25;  Pnre  Cocoa  (unsweeteneil  clioeolate),  Bol.  2.25  (cme 
bolinir  e(pial  to  one  franc);  packing,  shipping,  and  freight  to  be  paid  by 
the  l)uyer. 

137.  CHOCOLATE.     Exhib.  B.  Grcgorio  Perez,  "La  Tropical,"  Caracas. 

CLASS  48.    TOBACCO   IN    THE  LEAF. 


138. 

TOBACCO. 

Capadure. 

139- 

<( 

CJuanape,  od  class. 

140. 

t( 

2d      " 

141. 

(( 

Cordillera  "  aplanchado. 

WOKLD's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION".  43 


142. 

TOBACCO. 

Cordillci'.'i  guan.-ipc',  2(1  cluss 

143. 

1st     " 

144. 

Capadare,  3(1  class. 

145. 

1st     " 

146. 

Maturiii,  1st  class 

147. 

Cocoroto. 

It  is  reckoned  that  about  7,000  hectares  of  land  arc  given  np  to  the  cul- 
tivation of  tobacco  in  Venezuela,  each  contaiiiini;-  10,000  plants  and 
yieldin,i»"  an  annual  i)r<>ducc  of  750  kil()<;r.,  value  i^KIO,  which  gives  a  total 
jn-oduce  of  5,250,000  kilogr.,  value  $1,120,000.  About  12  per  cent,  of 
tills  quantity  are  exported,  chielly  to  Germany,  the  remainder  is  con- 
sumed in  the  country.  Capadare  tobacco  is  considered  the  best  class 
(price  about  $40  per  100  lbs.);  it  has  its  name  from  a  place  situated 
between  Puerto  Cabello  and  Coro.  Guanape  is  a  little  town  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  Slate  of  Bolivar. 

CLASS  50.    CHEWING  TOBACCO. 

148.  Martinez  &  Correa,  Valencia;  chewing  tobacco. 

149.  Hermanos  Romero  Garcia,  Valencia;  chewing  tobacco. 

150.  Leonardo  Garcia,  Valencia;  chewing  tobacco. 

151.  Chewing  tobacco  from  San  Felipe,  Yaracuy. 

CLASS  51.    CIGARS  AND   SNUFF. 

152.  J.  M.  Zerpa,  Cuniana;  cigars. 

153.  Jose  L.  Aristeguieta,  Valencia;  cigars. 

154.  J.   Ant.  Barela,  Valencia;  cigars. 

155.  Isaac  Chapman,  Coro;  snuff. 

CLASS  58.    FIBERS. 

156.  PITA-HEMP,  called  cocuizti  in  Venezuela,  is  prepared  from  the  long  and 

thick  leaves  of  several  species  of  Fonrcnvn  {F.  (ji(j(inie<(,  F.  cahennis,  and 
F.  viiHpdrn).  These  plants  grow  in  dry  and  waste  places,  without  any 
care  anil  help  of  man.  The  tibres  are  sometimes  over  4  feet  in  length, 
they  are  thickest  in  the  middle  (0.15  to  0.40  millim.).  Under  ordinary 
circumstances  they  contain  about  12  per  cent,  of  water,  and  3(5  i>er  cent, 
when  fully  saturated.  Their  ash  amounts  to  2  per  cent,  of  the  weight 
burnt;  it  is  white,  and  contains  many  cr^'stals  of  oxalate  of  lime.  The 
fibre  is  light,  so  that  cordage  made  of  it  swiins  on  the  w^ater.  Unfortu- 
nately its  llexibility  is  not  very  great,  and  still  less  .so  is  the  resistance 
against  torsion.  ^luch  cocuiza,  is.  j^n^pared  in  the  Barquisimeto,  Coro, 
and  the  Andes,  where  it  is  called  //V///^;.  It  is  used  es[)eeial]y  for  making 
l)agging,  hauunocks,  halters,  corthige,  etc.,  samples  of  which  may  be 
seen  in  the  exhibit. 

157.  MAJAGUA,  the  fibrous  inner  bark  of  PariUum  tiliaceum,  of  which  a 

kind  of  oidinary  cordage  is  made. 

158.  MORICHE-FIBER,  from  the  leaves  of  a  palm,  Mnuritia  flcvHosa,  whu;h 

grows  aJ)undantly  in  the  Delta  of  the  Orinoco  and  similar  places.  They 
are  used  for  making  reins  and  cordage. 

159.  PALM-LEAVES  (mostly  from  several  species  of  Carladovica),  used  for 

plaiting  hats. 


44  THE    UXITED    STATES   OF    VENEZUELA. 

i6o.  COTTON,  from  Barcelona.     Cotton  is   little  cultivated,  aud   only  for 
domestic  use. 

i6i.  YELLOW  COTTON,  Island  of  Margarita. 

162.  WOOL    OF    THE   SPINY   SILK-COTTON   TREE   {Eriodendron 

(infraciuoHaia).  Used  like  the  other  kinds  of  silk  cotton.  (Exhib.  Nat. 
Mus.,  Caracas.) 

163.  FRUITS  AND  SILK  OF  THE  SILK-COTTON  TREE  {Ochroma 

l(tgoj)us).  The  silk  is  only  for  the  stuffing  of  pillows,  as  it  does  not 
allow  of  1)cing  sjiun.     (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas.) 

164.  SIBUCARA  WOOL  {Bomhax).     Used  like  the  other  kinds  of  vegetable 

wool.     (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas). 

165.  LANA  DEL  TAMBOR,  the  silky  wool  which  envelops  the  seeds  of 

Boitihiix  ci/hninensis.  It  can  not  be  spun,  but  is  used  forinaking  pillows. 
(Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas.) 

166.  LANA  DE  ENEA,  the  exceedingly  soft  wool  wdiich  wholly  envelops 

the  llowers  of  a  s])eciesof  flag- tail  {Tyjjhu  anfjiusUfolui,  var.  dom i nice n sis); 
it  is  used  for  tiie  stuffing  of  pillows.  The  rhizoma  of  the  plant  contains 
a  considerable  quantity  of  starch.     (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas.) 

167.  FRAILEJON  (different  species  of  Espeletid,  growing  on  the  pdi'ainos  in 

tlie  highest  i)aris  of  the  Cordillera  of  Merida,  8,500  to  4,500  meters  over 
sea-level).  The  leaves  of  these  curious  plants  are  densely  covered  l)y 
very  soft  wool,  which,  being  a  bad  conductor  of  heat,  protects  the  i)laiit 
against  the  excessive  cold  to  which  it  is  exposetl.  (Exhib.  Nal. 
Mus.,  Caracas.) 

168.  SILK-COTTON,  the  beautiful  gloss}' seed-hairs  of  Cidotrojyis  gigantea, 

;.ii  iiast  Indian  asclcpiad,  and  perfectly  naturalized  in  Venezuela,  ll 
has  been  tried  to  use  them  for  a  kind  of  woven  fabric;  they  are,  however, 
too  brittle  and  do  not  give  a  good  thread.    (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas.) 

169.  SILK-WOOL  OF  OROZUZ  {Ihaiia  muricatd).     An  asclepiadaceous 

climber,  which  yields  a  milky  juice,  said  to  be  a  good  pectoral.  The 
seed-hairs  are  too  brittle  and  can  notbespim.  (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas.) 

170.  VEGETABLE    HORSEHAIR  {Tillandsia  usneoides).     A  well-known 

stulllng  material,  common  to  all  tropical  and  sub-tro})ical  climates. 

171.  ESTROPAJO.     The  inner  part  of  the  fruit  of  Luffa  cilindrica.     When 

bleac-hed,  they  are  known  as  Vegetable  Sponge  and  used  for  washing. 
(Exhil).  Gov't  of  Venezuela.) 

172.  Chiquechique  :  this   is  tlie   piassava   fiber,  obtained    from   a   palm-tree 

{Attdli'ii  fimiferd).  Brooms  are  made  of  it,  and  also  cables  and  other 
cordage,  which  are  much  used  on  board  the  vessels  navigating  the 
Orinoco. 

GIIOUP   10 — MINERAL   WATERS. — CLASS   C4. 

173.  ALCALINE  WATER  from  Baibacoa  (Coro). 

174.  "  '•  from  Caujaro  (Coro). 

175.  "  ♦♦  from  Guadelupe  (Coro).  This  water  contains 
chloride  of  sodium  0.344;  sulph  of  soda  0.(>!MJ;  bicarbonate  of  soda  0.  7TI; 
carbonate  of  iron  0.318;  carb.  of  lime  0.148;  silicon  0.371  (total  2.(542 
grammes  per  liter).     Exhib.  Isaac  Chapman,  Coro. 


WOULTVS    COLUMIUAX    KXPOSITION.  45 

176.  MINERAL  WATER  (iMcarbonate  of  soda),  from  Cumami. 

177.  *'  "  (sulpli.  of  soda),  from  Cumami. 

(SKOl'P   11 — WIIISKIF>,    CIDEll,  LUiUKUUS,  AND  ALCOHOL. — CLASS  G7.    RUM. 

178.  David  E.  Montiel,  Puerto  Cabcllo;  rum  and  rum  "Cristal." 

179.  F.   Olivares,  Barquisimeto;  rum    "Cocui"  and    "  Kccuelo  de  Cocui " 

(made  from  the  juice  of  the  Af/ave  Americana). 

180.  Isaac  Chapman,  Coro;  old  rum. 

181.  "  "      brandy. 

182.  Jose  Ant.  Ramos,  Cumana;  rum  Cumami. 

183.  Victor  Diaz,  Puerto  Cabcllo;  rum. 

184.  J.  Orsini  e  Hijos,  Cariipano;  rum  Giamarchi. 

185.  Manuel  G.  Planchart,  Barcelona;  rum. 

186.  M.  M.  Gonzalez  &  Co.,  Carupauo;  rum. 

187.  Sucesion  Marcano,  Barcelona;  rum. 

188.  Eduardo  Ramirez,  O.,  Maracaibo;  five  classes  of  rum. 

189.  Marturet  &  Mosquera,  Caracas;  rum  Malioma. 

190.  "  "  **         brandy. 

191.  Manuel  E.  Mirabal,  San  Fernando  de  Atabapo;  rum  "Guanayana." 

CLASS   68.    ALCOHOL. 

192.  Marturet  &  Mosquera,   Caracas;  alcohol  neutro. 

193.  Bernardo  Perez,  Cumana;  alcohol  3(3°. 

194.  "  "  "  ••       40°. 

195.  R.  Soucy  &  Co.,  Caracas;  ordinary  su«2:ar  brandy. 

196.  •*  "  *•        rectilied  alcohol. 

CLASS   69.    COKDIALS  AND   LIQUEURS. 

197.  Ed.  Ramirez,  O.,  INIaracaibo;  Anisado. 

198.  Marturet  &  Mosquera,  Caracas;  gin, 

199.  I.  Chapman,  Coro;  Auisete. 

200.  "  "  Crema  vaiuilla. 

201.  **  "  Curazao. 

202.  "  "  Crema  cafe. 

203.  **  "  Crema  cacao. 

CLASS   70.    BITTERS. 

204.  Miguel  M.  Herrera,  Caracas;  ron  bitters. 

205.  Luis  Carrera  Mayz,  Canlpano;  aromatic  bitters. 

206.  I.  Chapman,  Coro;  aromatic  bitters. 

207.  Juan  E.  Falangon,  ;  aromatic  l)ittcrs. 

208.  Guill.  E.  Monch,  Ciudad  Bolivar;  Amargo  de  Ciudad  Bolivar. 

209.  P.  Elias  Marcano,  ;  aromatic  bitters. 

210.  F.  Varguillas,  Sau  Felipe;  aromatic  bitters. 

211.  Andres  E.  Meano,  Cumana;  aromatic  bitters. 


46  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

212.  Miguel  M.  Herrera,  Caracas;  aromatic  bitters  "Bolivar." 

213.  *'  "  **       cocktail  Americano. 

GROUP    17 — :SIISCELLANEOUS   ANIMAL   PRODUCTS, — CLASS  91.    HIDES  AKD 

SKINS,    ETC. 

214.  SKIN  OF  JAGUAR  {Fells  onza). 

215.  ♦«  CUNUGUARO  {Felis  macrura). 

216.  '*  FOX  {Od/iis  az(ir(f). 

217.  *'  WEASEL  {{GaUctis  macrura). 

218.  "  SQUIRREL  (Sciurus  (estuans). 

219.  "  AGUTI  {Dasi/procta  aguti). 

220.  "  OPOSSUM  {Dkl€lj)hys  cancrivora). 

221.  **  SLOTH  {Bvddypus  torquatus). 

222.  "  BOA  CONSTRICTOR,  20  feet  3  inches  long. 

223.  COCHINEAL  {Coccus  cacti).  The  dried  bodies  of  the  females  of  a  homop- 

terous  insect,  which  lives  on  several  specie'^  of  prickly  pear,  principally 
Opuntiacoccinellifer  and  0.  tuna.     It  is  used  for  making  carmine. 

224.  GROUND-PEARLS,  known  in  the  country  by  the  name  of  "  huevos 

de  buchaco,"  /.  e.,  ants'  eggs.  They  are,  however,  the  larval  cai)sules  of 
PorpJn/ropJiora  mar(j<(rodes,  an  insect  belonging  to  the  (toccidre,  order  of 
homoptcne.  The  animal  lives  in  sandy  and  marly  soil,  feeding  on  the 
roots  of  certain  grasses.     (Exhib.  Nat.  Mus,,  Caracas.) 

GROIP    18. — FATS,    OILS,    SOAPS,    ETC. — CLASS  95.    ANIMAL    OILS. 

225.  TURTLE  OIL   from  the  eggs  of  Peliocejjhalus  tracaxa  and  Podocnemis 

exjxinsa ;  both  are  abundant  in  the  Orinoco  river,  and  known  in  the 
country  under  the  names  of  terecai  and  urrau. 

CLASS   96.     VEGETABLE   OILS,    WITH   THE   SEEDS. 

226.  OIL  OF  Fll^OH {Yatropha  Curcas),  exhib.  Charles Boi-ssellier,  Cariipano. 

227.  COCOA-NUT  OIL  {Coros  nucifera).      A  well-known   oil   obtained   by 

pressure  from  the  endosperm  of  the  seed.  Large  quantities  of  it  arc 
made  in  Cumana  for  soap-manufactures. 

228.  COCO-NUT  OIL.    Exhib.  F.  Serrano,  Cumana. 

229.  COCO-NUTS  in  the  husk,  and  without  it. 

230.  AJONJOLI  {(finfjilie).     The  seeds  of  Sena  imini  indie  urn  ;  they  yield  an 

oil  .similar  to  olive  oil,  and  are  also  roasted  and  jiounded  in  cold  water 
for  making  a  beverage  which  has  the  pro[)ert3'  of  increasing  the  secre- 
tion of  milk  in  nursing  women.  The  plant  is  cultivated  in  some  parts  of 
Venezuela. 

231.  OIL  of  the  same. 

232.  CASTOR-OIL    SEEDS   {Ricinus  communis).     From  these  seeds  the 

well  known  castor-oil  is  extracted  by  pressure. 

233.  SECUA  {FeuilUva  scandens,  a  cucurbitaceous  climber).     The  seeds  con- 

tain a  considerable  quanfil}'  of  colorless  oil,  said  to  be  very  excellent  for 
protecting  polished  steel  and  iron  implements  from  rusting. 


WORLDS    rOLUMHIAN    EXPOSITION".  47 

234.  MANI  (Earlli   Peas,   or  (Jnmiid   Nuts);    llic  pods   of  Ar(tchis  liypof/ad, 

wbicli  have  the  curious  peculiarity  to  ripen  under  iiround.  Tlie  seeds 
arc  eatenyifter  beinii"  sliuhlly  roasted;  they  also  yield  a  sweet  oil,  largely 
used  in  Kuro[)e  Tor  adulterating  olive-oil. 

235.  CRAB-OIL  {Cardjm  guianenm).      The  seeds  of  this  meliaceous  tree 

which  is  very  abundant  in  Guayara  contain  about  TO  per  cent,  of  an 
excellent  oil  for  soap-niauufacture. 

236.  SEJE-OIL,  from  the  seeds  of  a  palm  {Oenoairpus  bat(iaa),  which  <^rows 

in  the  Delia  of  the  Orinoco  and  in  the  Territory  Amazouas.  It  is  said 
to  be  an  infallible  remedy  against  consumption.  (Exhib.  Dr.  Frauc.  de 
P.  Keyes,  ex-Governor  of  the  Territory  Delta). 

237.  SEJE-OIL.     Exhib.  Blanco  Zerpa,  Cumana. 

238.  SASSAFRAS  OIL.     {Acroclidimn  chrysophyllum)  from  Barquisimcto. 

239.  CUAJO   {Myrifiticd  punctata).      The  bark  is  somewhat  aromatic   and 

used  as  an  anti-rheumatic;  the  fruits  contain  a  fat,  of  which  caudles  are 
made. 

CLASS  97.    SOAPS. 

240.  F.  Serrano,  Gumana;  common  soap. 

241.  Ch.  Boisseilier,  ("ariipauo;  Coco-nut  oil  soap. 

242.  R.  Soucy  &  Co.,  Carara;  toilet  soap. 

CLASS  98.    W^AX. 

243.  244,  245.  BEES'- WAX.     The  yellow  and  white  wax  is  the  produce  of 

Apix  liguririi,  introduced  in  the  country  since  1850,  and  now  com- 
pletely acclimatized.  The  l)lack  wax  is  made  by  a  species  of  Melipoiui, 
which  is  indigenous.  Prices,  white  wax  80  cents,  yellow  w^ax  70,  black 
wax  ^1  a  pound.  Foreign  white  wax  pays  25  cents  duty  per  kilogr. ,  and 
yellow  wax  about  15  cents. 

246.  BLACK  WAX  from  the  Territory  "Delta  del  Orinoco."     (Exliib.  the 

Governor  of  the  Territory.) 

GROUP  19 — FOllEST  PRODUCTS. — CLASS  101.    ORNAMENTAL  "WOODS. 

247.  ACAPRO  [Tecoma  spec.)    A  tree  of  from  20  to  25  meters  high,  trunk  6 

to  8  meters,  girth  0.80  to  1.20  meters.  Specitic  weight  of  dry'wood  1.25. 
It  is  almo.st  indestructible  but  dilticult  to  work. 

248.  ACEITE  {Copaifcra  officinalis).    Height  of  tree  10  to  15  meters,  trunk  4  to 

5,  girth  0.60  to  0.75  meters.  Wood  of  a  yellowish  red  color;  spec,  weight 
0.75. 

249.  ACEITUNO  (botanical  name  unknown).     Barquisimcto, 

250.  ACHIVARE  {Fie Ks  dend roc ida).     The  tree  is  also  called    "matapalo," 

i.  ('.,  "tree-killer,"  on  account  of  its  growing  on  and  around  other  trees 
which  it  slowly  strangles  to  death  in  proportion  as  its  aerial  roots  develop 
round  the  supixn'ting  stem.     The  wood  is  of  little  value. 

251.  ACQ  {Lonchocarpus  punctatus).     Height  of  tree  10  to  15  meters,  trunk  4 

to  5,  girth  0.00  to  0.75;  sj)ecitic  weight  of  wood  0.75.  The  wood  is 
Strong  and  tough,  of  a  darkish  color  with  some  lighter  veins;  it  keeps 
wull  under  water. 


48  THE  UNITED  STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

252.  AGUACATE  {Persea  gratissima).     A  fine-grained  wood  of  reddish  coloi; 

sometimes  ^vith  some  darker  veins,  not  very  liard,  specific  weight  0.65. 
The  tree  is  cultivated  lor  its  fruit,  and  attains  a  height  of  from  12  to  15 
meters,  trunk  4  to  5,  circumference  0.75  to  1.20. 

253.  AGUACATILLO  (Persea  spec).     The  wood  is  used  in  boat-building 

and  for  making  furniture.     Logs  of  IG  inches  square  are  not  uncommon. 

254.  AJICITO  {Capparis  pachaca).     A  small  tree  with  a  light-colored  wood  of 

not  much  hardness,  used  for  cabinet  work. 

245.  ALBARICOQUE  (botanical  name  not  known).      A  fine-grained  wood, 
not  very  hard,  used  for  cabinet  work. 

256.  ALCORNOQUE  (BoicdicMa  mrgilioides).     The  tree  is  low  and  has  gen- 

erally a  somewhat  stunted  appearance.  Its  wood  is  very  hard  and  dur- 
able; the  sap-wood  is  whitish,  the  heart-wood  is  almost  black,  showing 
grayish  spots  on  the  cross-section.  Specific  weight  1.08.  Very  common 
in  the  Llanos  or  Plains  of  the  interior. 

257.  ALGARROBO  {Hymencea  courbaril).     A  very  hard  and  heavy  wood 

(specific  weigiit  0.05),  of  dark  yellowish  color  with  some  greenish  veins; 
it  has  straight  fibers  and  is  free  of  knots,  so  that  it  can  be  easily  worked. 
It  is  especially  used  for  crushing  wheels  and  similar  things  in  cotfee 
estates.  Height  of  tree  20  to  25  meters,  of  trunk  7  to  8,  girth  0.75  to 
1.20 

258.  AMARGO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Barquisimeto. 

259.  ANDA-ARRIBA  (botanical  name  not  known).     Coro,  Maracaibo. 

260.  ANGEl^lNO  (IIo7?ialiu7n  racemosu?n).     The  wood  is  of  olive  color,  not 

very  hard,  has  straight  fibers  and  a  specific  weight  of  0.85.  Height  of 
tree  20  to  25  meters,  of  trunk  6  to  8,  circumference  0.90  to  1.20. 

261.  APAMATE  {Tabebuya  spec).     A  tolerably  good   wood  for  building, 

however  not  very  durable.  Height  of  tree  15  to  20  meters,  of  trunk  5  to 
8,  circumference  0.90  to  1.10. 

262.  AKAGUA'H'EY  {Tecoma  spectabilis).     The  heart-wood  is  of  great  hard- 

ness, of  a  (lark  olive  color,  and  has  a  specific  weight  of  1.25,  Height  of 
tree  20  to  25  meters,  of  trunk  6  to  8,  circumference  0.75  to  1.20.  The 
flowers  are  precocious,  that  is  to  say  appear  before  the  leaves. 

263.  ASPAI  {MyrodUi  iurbinata).      A  fine-grained  and   light-colored   wood, 

easy  to  work  and  used  by  cabinetmakers.  The  tree  grows  in  the  eastern 
States  (Camaiia,  IVIaturin,  Guyana). 

264.  AZAHARITO  {Taherimmontana  sp.).     A  strong  and  hard  wood,  of  a 

yellowdsh  red  color,  slightly  veined  with  grayish  green.  The  fibers  are 
somewhat  interwoven,  so  that  it  splits  Avith  great  difficulty.  Specif, 
weight  0.92.     Barquisimeto. 

265.  BALAUSTRE  {Centrolobium  robnstum).     Wood  red-colored  with  dark 

vein.s;  it  is  easily  worked  and  takes  a  good  polish.  Much  u.sed  for 
cabinet-work,  also  for  hou.se  and  ship-building.  Height  of  tree  25  m.,  of 
trunk  8  to  10,  girth  8  to  4;  specif,  weight  of  wood  0.75.  The  tree  is 
also  known  by  the  name  of  cortan. 

266.  BEJUCO    DE    CADENA    {SchneWi   splendc/hs).     liemarkable   for   its 

fialtencd  stems,  whicli  when  young  are  exceedingly  flexible  and  used  as 
thongs.  The  Spanish  name  signifies  "chain-vine,"  in  allusion  to  this 
property. 


'world's  columrtax  expositiox.  49 

267.  BERRACO    (lulwrna'moniuna  pftyt'lioirupfolui).     The  wood   is  fibrous, 

not  very  liiird,  and  of  an  olive  color,  soinctiiiies  wilh  darker  veins; 
specif,  weight  O.GU;  it  is  easily  worked  and  takes  a  good  polish.  Height 
of  tree  8  to  10  m.,  of  trunk  3  to  4,  girth  0.75  to  1.00. 

268.  BIROTE   (botanical    name   not   known,   but    probably  a  hujnoniticea). 

Wood  very  hard  and  durable,  and  much  used  for  under-ground  work. 
Specif,  weight  (M)."). 

269.  BORRACHO  {Piscidia   Erytliriiui).      A  light   wood  which,    however, 

resists  the  attacks  of  insects,  on  account  of  a  poisonous  substance  con- 
tained in  the  sap.     It  is  used  for  ordinary  cabinet-work. 

270.  BOSUA  (Z((nilio.vi/lum  ochroxyliim).     "Wood  yellow  and  not  very  hard, 

with  many  pores  and  narrow  medullary  rays.  The  tree  is  of  medium 
size  and  grows  everywhere. 

271.  BUJURITO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Not  very  abundant,  l)ut  of  a 

good  size  and  yielding  useful  timber. 

272.  CABIMBO  {Protium  insif/ne).     A  light  and  somewhat  resinous  wood, 

suitable  for  all  kind  of  work  not  exposed  to  dampness.  The  tree  attains 
very  large  dimensions. 

273.  CACHICAMO  (botanical  name  not  known).     A  large  tree,  which  gives 

1)oar(ls  of  from  12  to  24  inches  broad.  The  wood  is  useful  for  ship- 
building, being  almost  indestructible  under  water. 

274.  CACHIMBO  (l)otanical  name  not  known).    A  small  tree,  or  large  shrub, 

with  a  wood  hard  like  bone,  formerly  used  by  the  Indians  for  making 
their  short  tobacco-pipes. 

275.  CAIMITO  {Chri/fiophyllnm  cainito).     The  wood  is  of  dark  brown  color 

and  rather  hard,  l)ut  rarely  used.     Barcelona. 

276.  CANALI  (botanical  name  unknown).     Barquisimeto. 

277.  CANALETE  {Aspidof<perma  excelsum).     The  tree  grows  to  a  height  of 

from  25  to  30  meters,  with  a  trunk  of  8  to  10  meters,  and  is  sometimes  one 
meter  thick.  The  lower  part  of  the  trunk  is  generally  surrounded  by 
large  buttresses.  It  is  abundant  in  the  forests  of  3Iaracaibo  and  Guiana. 
The  wood  is  yellowish-gray,  easy  to  work  when  fresh,  but  getting  harder 
when  it  dries.  The  fibers  run  ver}'  straight,  so  that  it  splits  easily.  It 
is  much  used  for  making  oars  and  paddles. 

278.  CANDELERO  {Oreopanax  capitatum).     Wood  whitish,  rather  soft  and 

light.     l>arcelona. 

279.  CANOITO  (botanical  name  not  known).     A  tree  that  grows  rather  abun- 

dantly in  the  States  of  Coro  and  Barquisimeto,  and  furnishes  good 
beams  and  rafters. 

280.  CANADA  (botanical  name  not  known).     A  very  large  tree.     The  wood 

is  esi)ecially  used  in  shi|)-building  ;  it  is  yellowish  with  many  darker 
veins,  very  strong  and  compact,  and  deserves  to  be  better  known,  as  it 
is  certainly  one  of  the  finest  cabinet  woods.     Maracaibo. 

281.  CANAFISTOLA  MACHO  (Cassia  hrfmlienm).     Wood  somewliat  red- 

dish, of  medium  liardness  and  weigiit,  l)ut  not  much  used.  The  tree  is 
a  glorious  siulit  wIhmi  covered  by  thousands  of  its  golden  yellow  llowers. 

283.  CANAGUATO  (botanical  name  unknown).    Barquisimeto. 


50  THE   UXITED   STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

283.  CAOBA  iSwieie?iia  Mdhagojii).     The  well-known  maliagony-wood.    The 

tree  attains  a  height  of  from  20  to  25  meters,  whilst  its  trunk  measures 
sometimes  8  to  10  meters,  with  a  girth  of  from  1.50  to  2.50.  Specific 
weight  of  wood  0.82. 

284.  CAOBANO    {Brunella    comocladifoUa).      Wood    somewhat  similar    to 

mahagony,  though  of  inferior  quality  ;  it  is  principally  used  for  boards 
and  sheathing. 

285.  CAOBANO  BLANCO  {Guarea  Ruagea).   Wood  yellowish  white,  rather 

light  and  of  little  hardness  ;  used  especially  for  boxes. 

286.  CARACOLI  {Anacardium  rhinocarpus).     A  very  large  tree,  the  wood, 

however,  is  not  very  valuable,  and  used  especially  for  making  boats  and 
canoes,  also  for  boxes. 

287.  CARITIVANO  (a  species  of  RutacecE).     The  tree  is  rather  abundant  in 

the  forests  of  jNIaracaibo,  and  attains  large  dimensions.  The  wood  is 
fine  grained,  white  as  ivory,  but  getting  a  yellowish  hue  after  long 
exposure  to  air. 

288.  CARANGANO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Maracaibo. 

289.  CARTAN.    (See  Balaustre). 

290.  CARNE  ASADA  (Eltojxda  complanata).  Wood  reddish,  fibers  somewhat 

wavy  and  ratlier  thick  ;  specific  weight  0.93.  Used  for  cabinet-work, 
but  not  very  easily  worked. 

291.  CAT  ATI  (botanical  name  not  known).     From  the  forests  of  Cumana. 

292.  CAUDERO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Maracaibo. 

293.  CAUJARO  {Cordia  alba).     A  tolerably  good  wood  for  building  purposes, 

which,  however,  docs  not  stand  well  humidity.  The  tree  attains  a 
lieinht  of  from  12  to  15  meters,  its  trunk  4  to  5,  with  a  girth  of  from  0.75 
to  1.00. 

294.  CEDRO  AMARGO  {Cedrela  odorata).     The  bitter  cedar  wood  is  perhaps 

the  one  which  is  more  frequently  used  for  ordinary  cabinet-work  than 
any  other,  owing  to  its  being  so  very  easily  worked  and  proof  against  the 
attacks  of  all  kinds  of  insects. 

295.  CEDRO  DULCE  {Bursera  altissimn).     Wood  somewhat  resinous,  light 

and  rather  spongy;  it  is  used  for  boards,  sheathing,  etc.  The  tree  is  of 
very  large  dimensions. 

296.  CEIBO  (several  species  of  Bomhax  and  Enodendron).     All  are  very  large 

tices,  glowing  very  fast;  the  wood  is  soft  and  light,  and  used  especially 
lor  making  large  dug-out  canoes. 

297.  CENICERO   {Pcra   iomeniosa).      Wood   of  a  grayish   red   color   with 

darker  veins,  rather  hard,  of  a  fibrous  texture,  but  fine  grained;  specific 
weight  O.SO.  It  is  a  very  handsome  cabinet  wood.  Height  of  tree  10 
to  12  meters,  of  trunk  3  to  5,  girth  0.75  to  1.20. 

298.  CHIPORORO  (botanical  name  unknown).     Barquisimeto. 

299.  CHI  RIP  A  (botanical  name  not  known).     From  the  forests  of  Cumana. 

300.  CLAVELLINO  {Ca'salpinia  elavellino).     From  Ranpiisimeto. 

301.  CLAVITO  {Kt'jf1]iro.vylon,  spec).     Used  especially  for  making  walking- 

sticks. 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION".  51 

302.  CLEMON   (T/wftpcsid  jwpulnett).     A  small  tree  yii'ldiniz;  a  handsome 

wood  which  is  cnsily  worked  and  takes  a  good  polish.   Rather  uncommon. 

303.  COCO  DE  MONO  (several  species  of  Len/t/if.s).     High  trees  with  a  red- 

dish yellow  wood,  which  is  rather  hard  and  heavy,  and  used  as  well  for 
building  purjioses.  as  for  cahinct-work. 

304.  CONGRINA  (botanical  name  not  known).     Abundant  and  very  suitable 

for  building  jiurpo.ses  especially  under  ground.  It  gives  square  logs  of 
20  inches  each  side. 

305.  COPAIBA  (See  Aceite). 

306.  COPEY  {Clusia  rosea).     Wood  of  a  reddish  color,  rather  heavy  (specific 

weight  0.80),  but  little  used. 

307.  CRUCETA  REAL  {Thevetia  neriifoUa).    Wood  soft,  l)ut  rather  durable. 

Barcelona. 

308.  CUCHARO  (See  Paraguatan). 

309.  CURARIRE  (ajiiiears  to  belong  to  the  hir/noniacea').     Color  gray  with 

dark  veins;  it  splits  easily  and  is  rather  hard  and  very  durable.  Mara- 
caibo,  Barquisimeto. 

310.  CUSPA  {Galipea  cusparia).     Of  whitish  yellow  color,  rather  heavy  and 

strong;  specific  weight  0.90. 

311.  DUROTE  (Bocoa  provacensis).     A  high  tree  with  a  very  hard  and  fine- 

grained wood  of  a  beautiful  reddish  color,  which  takes  a  splendid  polish. 
It  is  one  of  the  finest  cabinet  woods. 

312.  DAGUARO  {Ca>s(dpinia  spec.)     Wood  reddish,   similar  to  Balaustre; 

excellent  for  building  purposes  and  cabinet  work.  The  tree  reaches  a 
height  of  about  15  meters  and  grows  especially  in  the  forests  of  ]\Iara- 
caibo. 

313.  DIVIDIVE  {Ccesalpinia  coriaria).     A  large  tree  reaching  sometimes  a 

height  of  80  meters,  whilst  its  trunk  measures  about  10  meters,  with  a 
girth  of  from  1.50  to  2.50.  It  grows  in  the  hot  lowlands  and  yields  a 
fruit  used  for  tanning  leather.  The  wood  is  very  heavy  (specific  weight 
1.80),  strong  and  fine  grained;  the  sap-wood  is  whitish  yellow,  the  heart- 
wood  })lack  and  almost  as  hard  as  iron.  It  is  used  for  wheels  in  mills 
and  turnery-ware. 

314.  EBANO  {Ca^saljnnia  ebano  and  C.  punctata).     Wood  black  with   some 

veins  of  other  colors,  very  strong  and  fine  grained.  Specific  weight  1.15. 
It  is  common  in  Maracaibo,  although  not  much  used.  Height  of  tree  20 
to  25  meters,  trunk  8  to  10,  girth  1.00  to  3.00. 

315.  ECHAHUMO  (See  Araguaney). 

316.  ESTORAQUE  {Mj/ro.^permum  spec).     A  large  tree  with  an  aromatic 

wood,  wliicli  is  very  elastic  and  generally  of  dark  brown  color.  It  is 
used  for  staves. 

317.  FLOR  AMARILLA  {T.  chrysantha).      The  wood  is  very  much   like 

Araguaney. 

318.  GATEADO  {Afitroniiim  firareolens).      The  tree  is  also  known  by  the 

names  of  diotnatc  and  tihifiaro,  esjiecially  in  the  western  part  of  Vene- 
zuela. The  wood  is  dark  colored,  veiy  strong  and  hard,  and  takes  a 
fine  i)olish,  so  that  it  ranks  among  the  best  cabinet  woods.  Specific 
weight  1.30. 


52  THE  u:n'ited  states  of  ye:s^ezuela. 

319.  GRANADILLO  {Brya  Ebenus).     Very  hard;  the  sap-wood  is  yellowish, 

the  heart-wood  brownish.     Specific  weight  1,32.     Barcelona. 

320.  GUACIMO  (6r'«rt2wwrt  ulmifolia).     Of  a  white  grayish  color  with  a  some- 

what reddish  hue  and  occasionally  some  dark  veins;  it  is  fibrous,  not 
very  fine  grained,  and  comparatively  light.  (Specific  weight  0.56).  Not 
much  used. 

321.  GUAIMARO  (botanical  name  not  known).     A  large  tree  groAving  abun- 

dantly in  the  forests  of  IVIaracaibo,  where  it  is  also  known  under  the 
name  oicluiro.  The  heart-wood  is  of  a  reddish  color  with  delicate  veins 
of  other  shades;  the  sai)-wood  is  yellowish  white  with  dark  markings, 
both  beings  of  a  fine-grained  texture  and  taking  a  beautiful  polish,  so  that 
they  are  very  desirable  for  fine  cabinet-work.  The  fruit  contains  an 
ediljle  seed,  said  to  be  of  good  taste. 

322.  GUARATARO  (  Vitex  spec).    Wood  yellowish  white,  fine-grained,  hard 

and  strong.     The  tree  is  of  a  good  size,  but  not  very  common. 

323.  GUATACARE   {Chytroma  IdnUmon).     A  good-sized  tree  with  a  hard 

and  rather  heavy  wood  (specific  weight  0.90),  which  is  very  elastic,  of  a 
dark-brown  color,  but  not  very  strong.  It  is  suitable  for  ordinary 
cabinet-work  ;  however,  does  not  stand  well  humidity. 

324.  GUAYACAN  {Guayacum  officinale).  Wood  exceedingly  hard  and  tough, 

the  fibers  crossing  each  other,  so  that  it  does  not  split.  The  sap-wood  is 
of  a  yellowish  color  ;  the  heart-wood  is  brown  with  dark  greenish  veins 
and  markings.  Specific  weight  when  perfectly  dry  1.12  (in  the  fresh 
state  1.30  to  1.3G).  It  is  used  for  tuinery-work,  cart-axles,  teeth  of 
indented  wheels,  etc. 

325.  GU AY ABITO  {Elf r/eiiia  pumcffolia).      A  fine-grained  and  very  strong 

wood  of  a  colfee-with-milk  color,  and  some  paler  veins.  Specific  weight 
0.90. 

326.  GUAYABO  DE  MONTANA  {Eitgenia  morltziana).     A  good-sized  tree 

growing  frequently  in  mountain  forests.  The  wood  is  hard  and  heavv, 
of  a  yellowish  color,  highly  elastic  and  very  durable.  It  is  especially 
used  for  rafters,  on  account  of  its  great  traverse  resistance. 

327.  HUESITO  {Proekia  Grucis).    Wood  whitish,  not  very  hard,  but  close- 

grained  and  pretty  strong.     Caracas,  Carabobo,  Barquisimeto. 

328.  LAGUNERO  {Pterocurjms  Draco).     A  middle-sized  tree  which  yields  a 

somewhat  reddish  wood  suitable  for  every  kind  of  cabinet-work. 

329.  LAUREL  {Nectandra  laurel). 

330.  LAUREL  BLANCO  {Oreodajuline  lenco.rylon). 

331.  LAUREL  CAPUCHINO  {Aydendron  laurel). 

332.  LAUREL    NEGRO   {Nectandra   turbacemis). 

The  wood  of  all  these  trees  is  strong,  though  not  very  heavy  (specific 
weight  0.()5  to  0.75),  fine-grained  and  more  or  less  aromatic.  The  color 
is  variable.  It  is  very  durable  and  easily  worked,  and  much  used  for 
cabinet -work,  also  for  boats  and  larger  river  vessels. 

333.  LECHERO  {Etiphorhia  caracasana  and  Sapium  aucnparium).     Wood 

whitish,  soft,  and  light  ;  it  is  little  used,  though  it  gives  boards  and 
slientliing  which  are  not  attacked  by  insects. 

334.  LIMONCILLO  (Braraisia  floribunda).      Wood  yellow  and  very   fine 

grained,  specific  weight  0.65.     Used  for  light  cabinet-work. 


WORLD  G   COLUMBIAN"   EXPOSITION".  53 

335.  MAHOMO  {Lonchocarpus  sp.).     Wry  luud  and  clastic  ;  it  is  much  used 

for  inakini;-  jaunts  of  wheels.  The  white  variety  is  said  to  be  belter  than 
the  darlv  one.  whicli  is  less  durabk'and  resistant.     Barceiouu. 

0 

336.  MAMON  {Mdicocca  hijn(ja\     AVood  hard  and   heavy  (specific  weii^ht 

O.IJO),  coininict  and  close-grained,  color  yellowish  with  very  narrow 
somewhat  darker  veins.  It  being  a  fruit  tree,  the  wood  is  seldom  made 
use  of. 

337.  MAMON  CHUSCO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Maracaibo. 

338.  MANGLE  COLORADO  {Ilhizophora  Mangle).     Wood  red,  strong,  and 

heavy  (specific  weight  1.10).  Much  used  for  rafters,  large  quantities 
being  shipi^ed  from  :Maracaibo  to  other  parts  of  the  coast. 

339.  MANTECA  (birtanical  name  not  known).    Rather  uncommon;  the  w^ood 

is  suitable  for  building  purposes  and  cabinet-work. 

340.  MANZANILLA  DE  MONTANA  (Bhysjur/landifolixm).     Wood  yel- 

lowish red  and  tolerably  hard;  specific  w^eight  0.75.     Of  little  use. 

341.  MAPURITE  [Zdnthoxylon  spec  ).  A  yellowish  wood  which,  v^hen  fresh, 

lias  a  smell  like  that  of  the  skunk. 

342.  MARA  BLANCA  {Bursera  Karsteniana).    Wood  resinous  and  light,  of 

whitish  color,  and  not  very  durable.    Barcelona. 

343.  MARA  ROSADA   {Bursera  Iteterojoliylla).     Very  much  like  the  last 

species. 

344.  MARFIL  (See  CariUvano). 

345.  MARIA  {Calopliyllum  Calaha).   A  close-grained,  yellowish  wood,  suscep- 

tible of  a  good  polish.     Maracaibo. 

346.  MECOQUE  (botanical  name  unknown).     Maracaibo. 

347.  MONTANAYARE  (botanical   name  not  known).       Uncommon;   but 

suitable  for  building  purposes;  gives  square  logs  of  15  to  18  inches 
broad. 

348.  MORA  {DimorpJtandra  excelsa).     One  of  the  loftiest  trees  in  the  forests 

of  Guayana;  the  wood  is  heavier  than  water,  dark  red,  close-grained  and 
rather  hard.     It  is  used  in  boat-building. 

349.  MUCURUTU  {Conroupita  guianensis).     A  close-grained  and  hard  wood 

of  a  handsome  yellowish  color;  the  tree  grows  to  a  very  large  size. 
Guiana,  Maracaibo. 

350.  NABURUCONE  (botanical  name  not  know^n).     Can  only  be  got  during 

the  rainy  season;  logs  of  24  inches  square  are  not  uncommon. 

351.  NARANJILLO  (See  Limoncillo). 

352.  NISPERO  {Achvds  Sapotd).     Wood  very  strong,  hard,  and  heavy  (spec- 

ific w^eiglit  1.05),  of  a  reddish  color  and  taking  a  Ijcautilul  polish.  It  is 
excellent  for  making  staves,  but  little  used,  as  the  tree  is  much  valued 
for  its  fruit. 

353.  NAURE  (botanical  name  unknown).     Barcelona. 

354.  OLIVO  {Jacquinia  armill(iris).     A  yellowish,  fine-grained  wood,   only 

used  for  small  caljinet- work,  the  tree  never  growing  to  a  considerable 
size. 


54  THE   UI^ITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA, 

355.  PALO  DE  ARCO  {Tecoma  spec).   Avery  strong  and  elastic  wood  from 

the  Upper  Orinoco,  of  a  dark  red  color  ;  specific  weight  0.95. 

356.  PALO  DE  ROSA  {Physocalymna  jiorida).     A  very  beautiful  wood  from 

the  Territory  Yuruary,  suitable  for  tlie  most  elegant  pieces  of  cabinet- 
work.    The  tree  is  of  a  very  large  size, 

357.  PALO  SANO  {Guayacum  sanctum).   Exceedingly  hard,  especially  when 

perfectly  dry.     Specific  weight  1.30.     Barcelona. 

358.  PAN   DE   ACURE  (botanical  name  not  known),     Rather  uncommon  ; 

wood  used  for  building  purposes. 

359.  PAN  DE  TRIGO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Barcelona. 

360.  PARAGUATAN  {Condaminea  tinctorea).     A  rose-colored  wood,  which, 

however,  loses  its  color  by  exposure  to  air  and  light.  It  is  not  very  hard 
and  easily  worked,  takes  also  a  fine  polish.  Height  of  tree  20  to  25 
meters,  trunk  8  to  12,  girth  1.50  to  3.00. 

361.  PARDILLO  {Gordia  gerascanthus). 

362.  PARDILLO  BLANCO  {C.  alba), 

363.  PARDILLO  DE  MONTE  {C.  gerascantlioides). 

364.  PARDILLO  BOBO  {Gordia  spec.) 

The  dilferent  species  of  Gordia  yield  handsome  woods,  which  are  easily 
worked  and  take  a  good  polish,  and  are  therefore  much  used  by 
cabinet-makers. 

365.  PARATURE. 

366.  PARATURE  DE  REBALSO. 

367.  PARATURE  DE  TIERRA  FIRME. 

Three  precious  woods  from  the  Territory  Amazonas,  the  botanical 
origin  of  which  is  not  known. 

368.  PERFANO  (botanical  name  unknown).     Barcelona. 

369.  PILON  {Andira  racemosa).     Common  and   suitable  for  building  pur- 

poses and  cabinet-work. 

370.  PUY  {Teco?na  serratifolia).     Very  hard  and  almost  indestructible,  spec- 

ific weight  1.30.  It  is  of  a  grayish  color  with  almost  black  veins.  It 
contains  an  acid  substance,  for  it  turns  reddish-yellow  when  touched  by 
an  alcalinc  body.  It  is  highly  esteemed  for  l)uilding  purposes,  as  well 
as  for  cabinet-work  and  turnery-ware. 

371.  QUIEBRAHACHA  {Gmalpinia  punctata).     Wood  very  hard,  but  the 

tree  does  not  grow  to  a  large  size.     Barcelona. 

372.  ROBLE  BLANCO  {Platymiscium  polystacJiyum).     The  wood  is  of  an 

iiil'crior  quality  and  seldom  used.     Caracns,  Barquisimeto,  etc. 

373.  ROBLE  COLORADO  {Tecoma  pentaphylla).     Very  hard  and  heavy,  of 

a  (huk  red  color.  It  is  excellent  for  building  purposes  and  also  for 
cabinet-work.     The  tree  is  of  large  size. 

374.  ROSA  DE  MONTANA  {Brownea  grandi'ccpK).      Dark  red  with  black 

veins  and  niarkings.  very  hard  and  tine  grained,  specific  weight  1.05. 
The  tree  is  ol  very  large  size. 


world's   COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION".  55 

375.  SAMAN  {Pithecolubium  Sdman).     A  very  large  tree  which  yields  a  wood 

of  rather  middling  qualities. 

376.  SASAFRAS  {ArrorluJiiim   cliri/sopht/llum,   and    NccUuidi-d    rymharum). 

Vcrv  lar^c  trees  with  a  scented  wood  of  exeellent  properties' for  ])uihi- 
ing  purposes;  from  the  second  species  very  large  dugout  boats  are  made 
for  navigating  the  Orinoco  and  the  other  rivers  of  tlie  interior. 

377.  SAY  (  Weinmannid   B<ilbm<in<i).     Wood   reddish,   hard,  and    very    fine- 

grained; but  the  tree  is  not  common  enough  for  its  being  used  more  fre- 
quently. 

378.  SEREIPO  {See  Estoragne). 

379.  SUSPIRO  (l)()tanical  name  unknown).     Coro,  Barquisimeto. 

380.  TACAMAHACA  (ProtinmheptajjJiyllum).    A  resinous  soft  wood,  which 

is  soinelinies  used  for  boards. 

381.  TAGUAPIRE  (botanical  name  unknown).     Barcelona. 

382.  TAPARO  {Crescentia  cujeie).     Wood  yellowish  white,  close-grained  and 

rather  hard  and  strong.  The  tree  is  of  medium  size,  and  growls  all  over 
the  country. 

383.  TOCO  (Craicpva  gynandra).    Very  light  and  soft,  generally  of  a  whitish 

color,  though  some  samples  show  reddish  veins.  Sawn  into  boards  for 
boxes. 

384.  TOTUMILLO  (botanical  name  not  known)     Said  to  be  a  large  tree, 

wdiich  grows  rather  abundantly  in  the  State  of  Carabobo.  It  is  a  good 
wood  for  building  purposes. 

385.  TREE-FERNS.     There  are  many  species  of  tree-ferns  in  the  flora  of 

Venezuela,  and  the  ligneous  part  of  their  stems  is  occasionally  used  for 
inlaid  work  in  line  cabinet  making. 

386.  TRIBUNAL  (botanical  name  not  known).     Barquisimeto. 

387.  TROMPILLO  {T^tin   hirtella).     A   good-sized   tree   whi  \ls  an 

excellent  wood  for  ordinary  cabinet-work. 

388.  TRUE  NO  (botanical  name  not  known).     Barquisimeto. 

389.  URAPE  {Bdiiliiniti  multinerriu).      A  fine  wood  of  reddish  color,  which 

takes  a  handsome  polish;  the  tree,  however,  grows  seldom  toagood  size. 

390.  VEYiA  {Gnayacum  arboreum).     A  large-sized  tree  yielding  a  wood  sim- 

ilar to  Gudyardn. 

391.  YAQUE   NEGRO  (Prosopis  mmanensis).     Very  tough  and  elastic,  but 

not  of  large  size.     Barcelona. 

392.  ZAPATERO   {Pi'Uofjyne  Jioribiuida).      Color  yellowish   to  black,  very 

strong  and  rather  heavy  (specific  weight  1.0^).  It  is  excellent  for  build- 
ing purposes  and  cabinet-work, 

CLASS  103.    DYEING  AND   TANNING   WOODS  AND   BARKS. 

393.  FUSTIC  ( -l^/'Vv/v/  tincioreii^.     Yields  a  well  kjiown  yellow  dye,  and  is 

exported  from  Ciudad  IJolivar,  (':irupano.  Barcelona,  Puerto  Cabello, 
and  Maracailx).  The  Barcelona  wood  is  considered  the  best  ;  it  sells  in 
France  at  1")  to  IG  frs.  per  100  kilogrs.,  whilst  the  .Maracnibo  wood  is 
about  4  frs.  cheaper.  This  latter  port,  however,  makes  the  largest  ship- 
ments amounting  to  nearly  7,000,000  kilogrs.  annually, 


56  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

394.  BRAZIL-WOOD  {ILmiatoxylon  Brasiletto).     Exported  principally  from 

Maraciiibo,  but  getting  scarce. 

395.  AMARILLO  {Aspidosperma  Vargasii).      A  large  tree  belonging  to  the 

family  of  dogbanes.  The  bark  yields  a  yellow  dye  and  contains  also 
some  tannin. 

396.  ONOTILLO  {Vismiaferruginea,  of  the  St.  John's  wort  family).      The 

bark  yields  a  reddish  yellow,  somewhat  resinous  substance  which  can  be 
used  like  gamboge. 

397.  RASURA   DE   CUCHARO.      Shavings  of  the  wood  of   Condaminea 

tinctorea,  used  for  dyeing  yellowish  red. 

398.  BOSUA-BARK  {Zanthoxylum  ocliroxylum).     Contains  berberidine  and 

is  therefore  used  for  dyeing  yellow. 

399.  ONOTO.     The  arnatto  seeds  {Bixa  orellana)  are  covered  with  a  deep  red 

pulp,  which  hardens  when  dr}^  and  being  separated  from  the  seeds  forms 
the  arnatto  of  commerce,  used  by  dj'ers  and  varnish-makers,  also  for 
coloring  cheese  and  butter.  The  South-American  Indians  paint  their 
bodies  with  it. 

400.  INDIGO, though  one  of  the  staple  productions  of  Venezuela  before  the 

cultivation  of  coffee  became  generalized,  is  now  of  very  little  importance, 
only  a  few  thousand  pounds  being  exported  annually  from  Puerto 
Cabello.  The  indigo  plants  {Indig<^'eTa  anil  and  /.  tinctorea)  aiv  grow- 
ing as  weeds  almost  everywhere;  it  is  nevertheless  not  probable  that  the 
manufacture  of  this  commodity  will  come  again  to  the  front. 

401.  RED  MANGROVE-BARK  {Wdzopliora  Mangle,  or  IMangle  Colorado). 

It  contains  from  22  to  38  per  cent,  of  tannin,  according  to^lie  age  of  the 
tree,  but  likewise  a  red  pigment  which  colors  the  leather.     Price  at  La 
Guaira  16  to  24  dollars  a  ton. 
(Exhib.  Bocardo&  Co.,  Caracas.) 

402.  DIVIDIVE.     The  pods  of  Ccasaljnnia  coriaria  contain  from  30  to  40  per 

cent,  of  tannin,  and  form  an  important  article  of  exi)ortatiou  from  several 
ports  of  the  Republic  (about  5,000,000  kilogr.  annually),  especially  from 
Maiv'icaibo.  Nearly  one-half  of  the  exportation  goes  to  France,  where 
100  kilogr.  fetch  more  or  less  25  francs,  the  cost  price  in  Venezuela  being 
about  half  as  much. 

403.  GATEADO  {Astronium  graveolens,  fam.   Therebinthaceae).     The  bark 

contains  from  25  to  30  per  cent,  of  tannin. 

404.  CURTIDOR  (  Weinmannia  glabra).     A  tree  belonging  to  the   Saxifrage 

family,  which  grows  rather  abundantly  on  all  the  higher  mountains  of 
the  country;  its  bark  contains  about  16  per  cent  of  tannin. 

405.  CURTIDOR  DE  SABANA  {Byrsonima  spicata,  fam.  of  ]\Ialpighiacea^). 

'i'lu!  bark  yiclils  from  20  to  25  per  cent,  of  tannin;  however  is  very  rarely 
\ise(l. 

406.  SAY-BARK  (Weininannia  B((lhiftiana).     The   bark  of  a  small  saxifra- 

gaccous  tice  growing  on  the  higher  mountains.  It  contains  much  tan- 
nin, and  is  occasionally  used  for  tanning  leather. 

407.  SORTIJERO  {Calypthr antes  clusio'folia).     A   myrtaci'ous  tree  of  rather 

sniiill  size,  growing  in  the  western  part  of  the  Republic  (Tachira,  Merida, 
Trujilio);  its  bark  is  rich  in  tannin. 


WORLD^S   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  57 

408.  URAPE  [Bdultiiiid  innilincrrid,  ;i  c-jcsalijiiiiaccouslrcc).     The  bark  yields 

a  considerahle  (luanlity  oftaimin. 

409.  YAGRUMO  ((Wropia,  peltatd,  an  iirticaccous  tree  with  laruc  fan-shai)e(l 

k'a^■t's  and  a  hollow  .stem).     The  bark  may  be  used  lor  laniiing. 

410.  AGUACATE  {Persea  gratissima).     The  bark  of  this  Iruit-tree  might  be 

used  for  taiuiiug  leather, 

411.  CUJI  {Acdcin  macracantha  and  other  species).     It  is  well  known  that  the 

bark  and  fruits  of  many  acacias  are  rich  in  tannin, 

412.  GUAYABO  {Psidima  gnara).     The  bark  of  this  well-known  myrtaceous 

fruit-tree  is  very  astringent  and  rich  in  tannin. 

CLASS  106.    GUMS,  RESINS,  CAOUTCHOUC, 

413.  ALGARROBO-RESIN  {llymenmi  courharil).     The  rcsm  exudes  from 

the  stem  and  roots  of  the  tree  and  is  often  found  in  a  semi-fossil  state  in 
the  soil.  It  may  be  used  for  making  varnish,  like  copal.  Exhib.  T. 
Chapman,  Coro. 

414.  YABO-RESIN  {Cercidium  viride).  The  resin  exudes  from  the  bark  of  the 

stem  and  branches,  covering  it  in  a  continuous  layer,  as  may  be  seen 
from  the  pieces  of  branches  exhibited.  It  is  used  by  soap  manufactur- 
ers. The  wood  of  the  tree  yields  an  ash  containing  a  high  peiceutage  of 
potash,  so  that  the  same  tree  furnishes  the  necessary  material  for  making 
an  ordinary  soap  of  good  detergent  properties.  In  some  parts  the  tree  is 
called  Quica.     Exhib.  T.  Chapman,  Coro. 

415.  COROBORE-RESIN  (also  called  Algnrroho,  llymerma  courbaril).   May 

be  used  for  making  varnish,  like  copal. 

416.  PERAMAN.     A  black  resin  obtained  from  Moronoh(ga  coccinea,  a  rubia- 

ceous  tree  growing  in  the  Tenitory  of  L'pper  Orinoco  and  Amazonas  ; 
it  is  principally  used  for  the  calking  of  river  boats. 

417.  TACAMAHACA.     A  resin  exuding  in  considerable  quantities  from  the 

wood  of  Protiam  he-ptaphyllnm,  a  fast-growing  tree  belonging  to  the 
family  of  Burseracea3.  It  is  used  in  medicine  as  an  exciting  topic 
remedy. 

418.  CAR  AN  A.     A   resin  very  much  like    tacnmaliaca,  and   obtained  from 

Protimii  riivdnnd.     Same  u.se  as  tacdmahaca. 

419.  GUAMACHO-GUM  {Peiveskia  gnamaclw).  A  leaf -bearing  species  of  the 

cactus  family  ;  the  gum  is  exuded  by  the  woody  stem  and  yields  a 
refreshing  nuicilage.  Exhib.  The  Quanta  Railway,  llarbor  it  Coal  Trust 
Company,  Limited. 

420.  SANTAL-BARK.     Under  the  name  of  sdndalo,  the  firm  of  Polly  c^: 

Co.,  of  Puerto  Cabello,  has  ex[)orted  the  wood  and  bark  of  what  ai)pear> 
to  be  a  rutaceous  tree,  which,  however,  is  not  botanically  well  known. 

421.  RUBBER.     Some  objects  of  rubber  made  by  the  Indians  of  the  Orinoco. 

Large  (piantities  are  extracted  in  Guiana  and  the  Territ.  Upper  Orinoco 
and  Amazonas,  and  shipped  either  via  Ciudad  Bolivar,  or  sent  down  the 
Rio  Negro  to  Para  in  Brazil, 

422.  PEJUA  (Gaultheria  Lindeniana).     A  small  shrub  with  highly  aromatic 

leaves  which  grows  abundantly  in  the  mountains  of  Cumana. 


58  THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    VENEZUELA. 

423.  TONKA  BEANS  {Bi'pterydc  odoraia).     A  larjrc  tree  which  grows  gener- 

ally gregariously  in  certain  parts  of  tlie  forests  of  Guiaua  ;  it  is  also 
coniniou  iu  l>razil  ;  liowever,  the  tonlia  beans  from  Para  are  considered 
inferior  to  tiiose  from  Ciudad  Bolivar.  In  IHUO  the  exportation  from 
tliis  latter  i)ort  was  79,810  kilogrs.,  valued  Bol.  442,721  (aljout  $85,000). 
The  amount  of  beans  collected  varies  much  in  dillerent  years  on  accoimt 
of  the  W' cather. 

CLASS   110.    BROOMS. 

424.  Hermanos    Romero    Garcia,  Valencia  :  brooms  made  of  broom  corn, 

called  millo  in  the  country. 

CLASS   111.    BASKET   INDUSTRY, 

425  to  430.  The  flora  of  Venezuela  has  a  large  number  of  species  with  very- 
flexible  stems  of  considerable  length,  which  furnisli  good  material  for 
basket-work  of  every  description,  although  the  articles  manufactured 
are  generally  far  from  being  elegant,  and  only  destined  for  ordinary  use 
in  the  rural  liousehold.  We  refer  to  the  oval-shaped  and  round  baskets 
de  cdviciUo,  made  of  the  high-climbing  stems  of  a  bambusaceous  grass 
{C/tusqnea  scandens),  the  large  peiacas  and  smaller  baskets  made  of  the 
split  stems  of  another  arborescent  grass  {Arundo  sdccJiaroides),  and  the 
hand-baskets  and  macutos  of  the  same  material.  Of  other  plants  used 
for  the  same  purpose  we  only  mention  the  bejaco  de  piragua  (a  species  of 
the  aroid  genus  PJtUodendron),  the  stems  of  whicli  grow  to  an  amazing 
length,  being  throughout  of  no  more  than  one-eighth  of  an  inch  in  thick- 
ness, so  that  they  look  like  long  pieces  of  twine.  See  samples  in  the 
Exhibit. 

DEPARTMENT  B. 

Horticulture. 

group  21 — pomology  and  manufactured  products. — class  141.  jellies, 

jams,  marmalades. 

431.  PRESERVED  BANANAS. 

431a.  QUINCE-JAM.  The  quince  is  not  indigenous  in  Venezuela,  but  grows 
very  well  m  the  liigher  parts  of  the  country.  The  fruit  is  much  used 
for  preparing  this  excellent  kind  of  jam. 

432.  GUAVA-JAM.     Prepared  with  the  fruits  of  Psidium  Oiiava,  and  highly 

esteemed  on  account  of  its  delicate  taste. 

433.  "  BOCADILLOS."     A  kind  of  jam  prepared  with  guava-fruits,  from 

]Meri(la  and  other  places  of  the  Western  Cordillera.  Each  piece  is 
wrapped  in  a  fragment  of  banana-leaf,     l^rice,  about  40  cents  the  pound. 

DEPAKT^IENT  E. 

Mines,  Minincj,  and  Metallurgy. 

group  42 — minerals. — class  290. 

434.  OPAL.     Tinaquillo. 

435.  ROCK-CRYSTALS  from  Assures  in  the  gneissic  mountains,  neighbor- 

hood of  Caracas.     Ex  bib.  by  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 


world's  columbiax  exposition.  59 

436.  CHRYSOTILE  IN  SERPENTINE.     Baniuisimcto. 

437.  ASBESTOS  IN  GNEISS,     (\iiacas. 

438.  DOUBLE-REFRACTING  CALCIC  SPAR,  ficm  the  ncigliborliood 

of  iSaula  Lucia  and  Santa  Teresa,  on  the  River  Tiiy. 

439.  TALCUM,  Ironi  the  neighborhood  of  Caracas. 

440.  URAO  (sos(iuicnrl)onatc  of  "tmlft,  from  the  bottom  of  the  small  lake  of 

Lammillas  near  Merida.  The  tinest  quality  is  called  espejueto,  and  sells 
about  80  cents  a  pound  ;' it  is  used  for  i)rei)arin,uw7/////o,  a  hi<.'hlv  coii- 
tlensed  extract  of  tobacco,  Avhich  is  almost  indispensable  to  the  inhabi- 
tants of  the  Cordillera.     Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

441.  GAYLUSSITE,  sescpiicarbonate  of  soda  and  lime,  from  the  bottom  of 

the  lake  of  Lagunillas  near  ^laracaibo.  It  is  known  in  the  country  under 
the  name  of  clavoa  {i.  e.,  nails),  in  allusion  to  the  shape  of  the  crystals. 

ORES. 


CLASS  291 

442. 

GALENA. 

Barquisimeto. 

443. 

<( 

Caracas. 

444. 

(( 

Carabobo. 

445. 

<( 

Cumana, 

446.  AURIFEROUS  QUARTZ  and  VEIN-ROCK,  from  the  mine  El  Callao, 

Territ.  Yuriiary,  Guiana.  The  samples  are  exhibited  in  a  show-case 
made  of  some  of  the  most  precious  woods  of  Guiana.  The  district  of 
Yuruary  has  realized  to  a  certain  degree  the  old  fable  of  the  J'amous 
Dorado,  the  amount  of  gold  exported  from  ISGG  to  1890  beini";  of  70,1U2,- 
400  kilogrs.,  valued  ,$4(5,630,197,  the  larger  i)art  of  which  has  been  pro- 
duced by  the  Callao  mine.     Exhib.  the  Callao  Company. 

447.  COPPER  ORE  AND  OTHER  ORES  (iron,  .silver,   gold),  from  the 

mines  of  Chacao,  near  Ciudad  de  Guru,  in  IheiStale  of  .Miranda.  Exhib. 
the  Company. 

Copper  and  antimony  with  gold  and  silver.  Bar- 
quisimeto. 

Siliceous  and  argillaceus  limestone,  with  some  glucina, 
oxide  of  chrome,  and  small  fibres  of  asbestos.  Bar- 
quisimeto. 

Siliceous  limestone  with  galena.     Barquisimeto. 

Sulphuret  of  iron  and  copper,  with  anlimonv,  silver, 

and  .some  traces  of  gold.     I?arquisimeto.  " 
452.         **  **  Sulphuret  of  iron  and  copper,  wilh  antinion}-,  gold  and 

silver.     Bar(pnsimeto. 

453'         "  **  Sulphuret  of  iron  and  arsenicum.     Barquisimeto. 

454.  **  *'  Siliceous  limestone  wilh  lead  and  traces  of  silver.     Bar- 

quisimeto. 

455.  **  *'  Suli>huret    of  coi)per   and  iron  with  antimony,   silver 

and  gold  in  small  (juantities.     Barquisimeto. 

456.  *'  *'  Sulphuret    of   iron,  with  copper,  antimony,  gold,  and 

silver,  from  the  mines  of  Buria.     Barquisimeto. 


448. 

Rafael 

Ricart. 

449- 

i( 

(< 

450. 

u 

t( 

451. 

t( 

(( 

60  •     THE   UNITED   STATES    OF   YEXEZUELA. 

457.  MINERALS.     Copper,  gold,  silver,  aiitiniony,  argentiferous  galena,  tin, 

sulphur,  guano,  niter  ;  from  different  localities  in  the  section  Yaracuy 
of  the  State  of  Barquisimeto.     Exhib.  R.  Ricart. 

GROUP   43 — MINERAL    COMBUSTIBLES — CLASS    292.    MINERAL    COAL. 

458.  MINERAL  COAL,  Mines  of  Naricual,  near  Barcelona.      Composition  : 
'  water,  (KO  ;  volatile  substances,  4o.O  ;  carbon,  45.0  ;  leaves,  0.0  of  ashes 

(containing  about  8.3  i)er  100  of  iron  oxide)  and  yields  a  very  compact 
coke.  Exhib.  "The  Guanta  Railway,  Harbor  it  Coal  Trust  Company, 
Limited." 

459.  MINERAL  COAL,  from  the  same  locality.   Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

360.  MINERAL  COAL,  from  San  Fernando,  near  Cumanacoa,  at  a  distance 
of  about  35  miles  from  Cumaua.  For  further  information  see  the  printed 
notice  which  accompanies  the  samples  exhibited. 

461.  MINERAL  COAL,  from  Villa  de  Cura. 

462.  MINERAL  COAL,  from  Cocollar,  Cumana. 

463.  MINERAL  COAL,  from  Valle  de  la  Pascua,  Guarico.     A  rather  indif- 

ferent kind  of  lignite. 

464.  LIGNITE,  from  Nirgua,  in  the  State  of  Carabobo.     Shows  still  much  of 

the  structure  of  wood  which  ajipears  to  be  that  of  conifer,  perhaps  a 
species  of  Podocarpus.     Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

465.  MINERAL  COAL,  from  Cumarebo  (Coro).     A  very  good  lignite,  that 

burns  freely  with  a  white  blaze  and  leaves  but  3. 34  per  cent.  ash.  From 
an  analysis  made  some  years  ago  by  Dr.  Fleck  in  Leipzig  it  contains  : 
carbon,  01.49  ;  hydrogen,  5.30  ;  oxygen,  29.81.  Its  calorific  effect  is, 
therefore,  equal  to  548,155  calorics,  whilst  Cardiff  coal  gives  721,215,  so 
that  100  tons  of  this  latter  are  ecpial  to  132.8  tons  of  Cumarebo  coal. 

466.  AZABACHE  fa  kind  of  jet),  from  Tocuyo.      Formerly  used  for  making 

mourning  ornaments, 

CLASS   293.    ASPIIALTUM. 

467    ASPHALTUM  (chapapote),  from  Cumana. 

46P.  SOLID  ASPHALTUM,  from  :\raracaibo.    Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

469.  LIQUID  ASPHALTUM,  from  Pedernales,  Delta  of  Orinoco.  Exhib. 
Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

47G.  PETROLEUM,  from  Pedernales,  Delia  of  the  Orinoco.  Exhib.  of  Nat. 
!Mus.,  Caracas. 

471.  MINERAL  PRODUCTS,  from  the  .isphaltum  mines  and  petroleum 

wells  of  Pedernales,  Delta  of  the  Orinoco.  Peder/udes  is  the  name  of 
the  most  norlhern  channel  by  which  the  Orinoco  flows  into  the  sea.  A 
chartered  comj)any  is  actually  working  in  a  certain  localit}'  on  its 
banks  what  a])pears  to  be  a  very  ])r()inising  deposit  of  asphaltum  and 
pelrolcuni,  tlic  outcome  being  highly  satisfactory. 

472.  PETROLEUM,  from  Cumana,  near  i\ranicuare. 

473.  PETROLEUM,  from  Betijoque,  Mountains  of  Trujillo. 


WORLDS   COLUMBIAN"   EXPOSITTO?^.  Gl 

onorp  44 — iu'ilding  stones,  makijlks,  etc.— class  296. 

474.  MARBLE  ;  two  samples,  one  from  the  "  Morro,"of  Valencia,  tlic  otlier 

from  Puerto  C'abellcj. 

475.  MARBLE,   from  Giianango  near  IJorlxirata,  at  a  short  distance  from 

I'lUTiD  L'abello.     A  rough  block  from  the  surface  and  several  polished 
ones. 

476.  MARBLE,  from  Carupano. 

477.  STALACTITES,  Cumana. 

478.  PIEDRA-SILLAR,  a  large-grained  somewhat  calcareous  sandstone  from 

the  younger  crelaeeous  formation  in  the  mountains  of  Cumana.     It  is 
used  as  a  building  stone  and  also  for  making  drip-stones  or  water-tilters. 

479.  SAMPLES  OF  STONES  used  now  for  street  pavement  in  Caracas. 

It  is  a  metamorphic  limestone  of  great  hardness,  which  is  to  be  found 
rather  abundantly  in  the  ueighborliood  of  the  city. 

GROUP  46— CLAYS   AND   OTHER  FICTILE  MATERIALS.— CLASS  304. 

480.  KAOLINE,  or  pure  alumina.    Island  of  Margarita.     Exhib.  Nat.  Mus., 

Caracas. 

481.  KAOLINE,  from  Cumanacoa. 

482.  COMPACT  KAOLINE,  from  Barquisimeto, 

483.  PIPE-CLAY,  with  traces  of  lignite  and  petroleum,  from  Cumana. 

GROUP  47— LIMESTONE,  CEMENTS,  AND  ARTIFICIAL  STONE.— CLASS  309  AND  311. 

484.  MAGNESIAN    LIMESTONE,    somewhat  siliceous,    and   containing 

besides  clay  and  oxide  of  iron.     Barquisimeto,    Exhib.  liaf.  liicart. 

485.  Latorre  Chelini  &  Co.,  Caracas.     Samples  of  mosaic  of  artificial  stouc. 

486.  J.  M.  Herrera,  Samples  of  terra-cotta. 

487.  J.  Lameda,  Cements. 

GROUP  48— SALTS,    SULPHUR,    FERTILIZERS. 

488.  NITRE,  Bermudez. 

489.  NATIVE  FEATHER-ALUM,  from  Yaracuy,  State  of  Lara. 

490.  SULPHUR,  from  the  "  a/.uf rales,"  near  Carupano. 

491.  TIERRA  DE  CARACOLILLO,  I  c,  shell-earth,  from  lands  which 

formerly  were  covered  l)y  the  waters  of  the  lake  of  Valencia.  It  is  a 
kind  of  clay  full  of  small  shells  of  molluscs  (especially  Ancylufi  Mori- 
candi,  Ilijdrobui  coronnUi,  II.  siagnalis,  II.  Ernesti,  PlanorbiH  pronus)  and 
a  large  number  of  sponge-spicuhe  and  diatomaceous  shells.  It  is  exceed- 
ingly fertile.     Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

492.  PHOSPHATE  OF  LIME,  from  Los  Roques,  a  small  group  of  islands, 

due  north  of  La  Guaiia.     Exhib.  Nat.  ]Mus.,  Caracas. 

493.  SAMPLES   OF  GREEN,  GRAY,  AND   BLACK  PHOSPHATIC 

EARTH,  from  the  island  El  Gran  Koque.  E.xhib.  l)y  the  Governor 
of  ilic  Territory  Colon. 

494.  PHOSPHATIC   GUANO,  from  Avcs  Island.     Exhib,  Polly   &   Co.. 

Puerto  Cubello. 


62  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

495.  GUANO,  from  Santa  Fe  (Cumana). 

496.  **  from  Aguas  Blancas,  Dist.  Araure,  State  of  Zamora.     Exhib. 
Jose  F.  Koldan. 

497.  "  from  San  Juan  de  los  Morros.     Exhib.  Cirilo  Matos. 

498.  MINERAL    WATER,    from    "Las    Triucheras."      The  springs  are 

located  on  the  northern  slope  of  the  mountain  chain  between  Puerto 
Cabello  and  Valencia,  and  have  a  temperature  of  over  194  degrees,  the 
temperature  of  the  air  being  about  76  degrees.  The  chemical  composi- 
tion was  investigated  by  Boussingault  with  the  result  that  the  water  is 
sulphurous  andsodic.  There  exists  a  comfortable  establishment  near 
the  spring  for  the  use  of  visitors,  under  the  management  of  Dr.  Fran- 
cisco Padron. 

499.  SAMPLES  OF  SEDIMENT  left  by  the  water  of  the  spring  of  "Las 

Triucheras,"  in  the  basin  from  which  it  issues. 

(The  other  Mineral  Waters  from  Venezuela  are  mentioned  under  Nos. 
178  to  177  of  this  Catalogue.) 

GROUP  49— IRON.— CLASS  323.    IRON-ORES. 

500.  IRON  ORE  FROM  IMATACA.     The  iron  mine  of  Imataca  is  the 

propert}^  of  ]Mr.  Geo.  Turnl)ull,  a  North  American  citizen.  It  is  situated 
54  miles  from  the  "Boca  Grande"  of  the  Orinoco,  in  the  Federal  Terri- 
tory "  Delta,"  on  the  cano  Corosimo,  in  8'^  29'  L.  N.  and  61°  18'  L.  W. 
Grw.  By  analysis  it  w^as  found  that  the  ore  contains  from  67  to  70  per 
cent,  of  pure  iron,  and  is  to  be  chissitied  as  magnetic-specular  iron  ore 
(oligiste).  It  can  be  reduced  without  dilliculty  and  yields  a  lirst-class 
steel.  The  mine  is  distant  about  500  meters  from  the  cano  Corosimo, 
which  is  deep  enough  for  vessels  of  from  2,000  to  8,000  tons  burden. 
The  veins  have  been  laid  open  for  a  distance  of  more  than  6  miles,  and 
can  be  work(!d  easily;  there  are  besides'about  200,000  tons  of  surface  ore. 
As  the  mine  is  only  2,000  miles  from  Baltimore  or  New  York,  it  offers 
more  ad  vantages  for  transport  than  the  mines  of  Bilboa  in  Spain,  or  those 
of  Sweden,  which  are  from  4,000  to  5,000  miles  distant  from  said  ports. 
In  addition  it  nuist  be  observed  that  the  Imataca  iron  is  only  equaled  by 
the  very  best  Swedish  produce. 

501.  BOG-IRON  ORE.     Caracas. 

502.  IRON   ORE   (iron   pyrites).      Exhib.    the   Government  of  the  State  of 

Bcrmudez. 

503.  IRON  ORE  (Oligiste),  from  Manoa,  Territory  of  the  Orinoco.     Exhib. 

by  the  Governor  of  the  Delta. 

(JllOUP  51 — COPPER. — CLASS   840.    COPPER  ORES. 

504.  COPPER-ORE  (mostly  carbonate),  from  El  Carrizal.      Exhib.   J    A. 

M()S(piera. 

505.  GREEN  AND  BLUE  COPPER  CARBONATE,  from  the  mines  of 

Giiaicaii)ur(j,  State  ol"  Miranda. 

506.  Rafael  Ricart.     Sulpluiret  of  copper  with  silver  and  gold.    Barquisimeto. 

507.  "  Copper-ore,    containing  some  silver  and  gold.       Bar- 
quisimeto. 

508.  Rafael  Ricart.     Copper  ore,  with  some  antimony,  gold,  and  traces  of 

silver.     Barquisimeto. 


W()i;i,I)'s    COLrMIJIAN    HXPOSITIOX.  Go 

509.  COPPER  ORE  (pyrites  and  carbonate)  and  rf'nulus.  Exhil).  l)y  "The 
(,)ucl)ra(la  Jiailway.'Jiand  A:  Copper  ('oni[")any,  Linuted,"  in  Aroa 
(\  araeuy). 

The  Aroa  mines  are  located  in  tiio  section  Yaraciiy  of  tiic  State  Lara, 
on   the  banks  of  the  river  Aroa,  which  Hows  into  the  Caribbean  Sea' 
Their  distance   from  the  port  of  Tncacas  is  about  89  nules,  and   their 
beiuht  over  sea-level   1165  feet.     They  were   discovered  1005   by   ,,„(. 
Alonso  de  Oviedo  ;  but  during-  the  whole  epoch  of  Spanish  rul<!  thei)r(;d- 
uce  was  very  insigniticant.     In  our  century  they  became,  by  inheritance, 
the  i>roiK'rty  of  the  Liberator  Simon  Lolivar,  and  \ver(!  afterwards  sold 
by  his  family  to  an  En-lishman  called  Hol;crl  Dent.     To-day  they  belony 
to   "The  (^uebrada   Kailway,  Land  &  Copper  Company,  Limited,"  in 
Loudon,  whose  cai)ital  is  formed  by  ^00,447  shares  of  £3  each.     The  ore 
is  found  in  a  kind   of  slaty  limestone  and  is  principally  chalcopvritc, 
called  ye  low  ore  by  the  miners,  contaiuin<;  9  to  12  per  cent,  of  mc^tallic 
copper.     This  ore  underijoes   several   transformati(jus,  being  changed 
iiito  red  oxide  {ruby  ore)  and  carbonate  of  copper  {laahiquUe  and  aznrfu'). 
Kearly  all  the  output  is  shipped  to  Swansea  in  England  ;  only  the  i)oor 
carbonate  is  reduced  first  to  regulus  containing  from  25  to  30  per  cent 
ofc()pi)er.     From  1878  to  181)1   there  were  shipped  329,218  tons  of  ore 
(averag-iug  11.25  per  cent,  of  copper)  and  53,053  tons  of  regulus  (averag- 
ing 2«.7.)  per  cent.).     These  quantities  represent,  therefore,  51,759  tons 
of  metal,  which,  at  the  average  price  of  £54  per  ton,  make  a  total  of 
£2,794,98(5,  or  nearly  $14,000,000  Amer.  gold.     The  copper  from  \'ene- 
zuela  goes  in  Swansea  under  the  name  of  "  Quebrada  "  ore  and  holds  in 
that  market  the  second  place  after  Chile. 

GROUP   67— HISTORY  AND    LITERATURE   OF   MININO.— CLASS   410.    MAPS. 

510.  MAP  OF  VENEZUELA,  showing  the  location  of  the  most  important 

mines  hitherto  known. 

511.  MAP  OF   THE   MINING  TERRITORY  IN  THE  DISTRICT  OF 

GUAICAIPUCO,  State  of  Miranda. 

512.  MAP  OF  THE  COAL  MINES  OF  NARICUAL,  Barcelona. 

(A  great  many  maps  and  drawings  referring  to  the  mines  in  Venezuela, 
are  to  be  found  in  the  Boletin  de  lilqiiezaPkhlica,  whi(-h  will  be  mentioned 
hereafter  among  the  publications  of  the   Government.     (Group   150 
Class  803. )  ' 

depart:\ient  g. 

Transportation. 

group  80 —railroads. 

513.  RELIEF  PLAN  OF  RAILROAD  FROM  LA  GUAIRA  TO  CARA- 

CAS. Lxec4Ue(l  under  the  direelinn  of  Dr.  1.  :Mufioz  Tebar,  Mini.ster 
of  Public  Works,  and  exhibited  by  the  Government  of  Venezuela 
Although  it  is  only  5  miles  (as  the  crow^  flies)  from  La  (Juaira  to  Caracas 
communication  between  the  two  places  presents  considerable  dilticultie.s 
on  account  of  the  great  (h'lTerence  in  height  over  sea-level  (2  984  f(>et) 
and  the  irregular  configuration  of  the  coa.st-chain  which  separates  the 
capital  trom  its  sea-port.  During  all  the  time  of  S[)anish  rule  there  was 
only  a  mule  track  over  the  mountains;  and  about  50  years  a"()  a  cart- 
road  was  built,  which  both  are  still  in  use.      The  great  progress  of  com- 


64  THE    UlSriTED    STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

niercial  movement  made  it,  liowever,  necessary  to  provide  for  l)etter 
means  of  transportation,  and  led  to  the  consh-uction  of  a  railroad,  which 
was  carried  out  by  an  English  company  and  opened  to  traflBc  in  1883 
after  two  years  of  work.  This  line  is  22;'4  miles  long  ;  the  shortest 
radius  of  the  curves  is  140  feet  and  the  maximum  gradient  3! 75  per  cent. 
The  gauge  is  3  feet,  the  rails  weighing  50  pounds  a  yard.  The  ties  are 
madc'of  Hie  very  best  heart-wood  from  the  coimtry,  measuring  6  feet  by 
G  inclu's  by  8  inches,  and  are  placed  at  two  feet  distance  from  each 
other.  The  highest  point  of  the  line  is  at  its  entrance  into  the  valley  of 
Caracas  (3120  feet).  There  are  five  bridges  (the  longest  measuring  406 
feet)  and  8  tunnels  (the  longest  of  314  feet  in  length,  having  the  follow- 
ing section  :  radius  6  feet  6  inches,  base  11  feet,  width  in  center  13  feet, 
height  13  feet  6  inches.  In  Caracas  as  well  as  in  La  Guaiia  there  are 
stations  with  spacious  buildings  for  passengers  and  freight  traffic,  besides 
workshops  and  other  structures  for  the  rolling  stock,  which  (1892)  con- 
sisted of  IG  locomotives,  IG  passenger-cars,  and  97  freight-cars.  Every 
day  22  trains  are  run,  viz.,  4  passenger-trains,  IG  freight-trains,  and  3 
mixed  trains  ;  but  on  Sundays  there  are  only  passenger-trains.  During 
the  first  half-year  of  1891  the  receipts  were  as  follows  :  Passengers  (44,- 
825),  Bol.  371,971.75;  ba engage,  Bol.  18,140.24;  down-freight  (10,000 
tons),  I3ol.201,724.2G  ;  up-freight  (45,G13  tons).  Bol.  1,4G7, 822.53;  storage 
and  sundries,  Bol.  14,510.87;  total,  Bol.  2,075,211,15. 

514-515.  "GROSSE  VENEZUELA  EISENBAHN-GESELLSCHAFT." 

A  series  of  photogra])hic  views  of  the  most  interesting  points.  This  line 
is  being  constructed  by  a  German  company,  under  the  direction  of  the 
"  Norddeutsche  Bank"  in  Berlin.  When  concluded  it  will  connect 
Caracas  with  Valencia,  running  through  the  valleys  of  Aragua,  one  of 
the  most  important  centers  of  agricidture  in  the  country.  As  yet  only 
25  kiloms.  are  open  to  traffic  ;  but  soon  the  work  in  the  extremely  diffi- 
cult part,  between  kilom.  30  and  50,  will  be  terminated,  and  witliin  one 
year  trains  will  run  as  far  as  La  Victoria,  a  distance  of  94  kilom.  from 
Caracas.  Tlie  gauge  of  the  line  is  1.07  meters,  the  shortest  radius  of 
curves  90  meters,  the  maximum  gradient  2  per  cent.  There  are  95 
tunnels  of  a  total  length  of  4,079  meters  (the  longest  2G7  meters),  46 
viaducts,  and  29  bridges.  The  station  at  Caracas  is  911. G4  meters  above 
sea-level  ;  at  a  distance  of  30  kiloms.  the  highest  point  is  reached  (Stat. 
El  Corozal,  1,226.93  meters);  thence  to  Las  Tejerias  (38  kiloms.)  there  is 
a  descent  of  726  meters,  and  finally  follows  a  nearly  horizontal  aection 
until  La  Victoria  (537.32  meters)  is  reached, 

CLASS   523.     SADDLERY. 

516.  J.  Boccardo   &   Co.,  Caracas.     Saddles,   called  sillas  vaqueras,   richly 

embroidered. 

517.  RAW  COWHIDE  CORDS,  generally  used  by  cartmen  for  fastening 

the  cargo  on  the  cMrts. 

518-522.  STRAPS,  HALTERS,  AND  CORDAGE,  made  of  horse-hair. 

DEPARTMENT  H. 

Manufactures. 

group  87— chemical  and  tilalim acei'tk  al  products, — class  547.  drugs. 

523.  ANGELON  {Angelonia  snlicnricvfolin).      A    ])owerful    sudorific.      The 
plant  grows  abundantly  in  moist  places  nearly  everywhere. 


world's    rOLUMTUAX    EXPOSITION.  05 

524.  BEJUCO  MORENO  {Seijania  diversifolia).     Anli-sypliilitic. 

525.  PALO  AMARGO  (hotaiiical  origin  not  known).     The  burk  is  said  to  he 

a  g(»t)(I  tonic  and  iVbiiliigo. 

526.  GUACO.     Stems  and  leaves  of  a  {■linil)ing-plant  {Mikania  gonorlada) 

winch  have  the  repntation  of  being-  an  excellent  blood-iMiriher  and  a 
remedy  agamst  snake-poison. 

527.  GUACHAMACAN  {M<ilouetia  nitida,  fam.  of  Apocymicece).    The  milky 

sap  ot  the  wood  contains  a  poisonous  substance  of  liigidv  narcotic  prop- 
erties The  plant  giws  abundantly  on  the  banks  of" Middle  Orinoco 
and  Apure.     Kxhib.  Nat.  Miis,,  Caracas. 

528.  PALO   MATIAS   {Croton   Malnmho).     The  bark  is  arom.itic  and  used 

as  a  stimulant.     Exhib.  Xat.  :\Ius.,  Caracas. 

529.  PICA  MALVA.    A  plant  of  the  composite  family,  and  belon^rino-  prob- 

ably to  tiie  genus  Calea.     All  its  parts  are  of  an  intensely  bittcT  taste- 
the    eaves  macerated  in  water,  rum.  or  wine  are  recommended  as  an 
excellent  stomachic,  and  it  is  said  that  they  dve  good  results  also  in  the 
tTcatment  of  scrofula  and  paludic  fever.    ^Exhib.  Dr.   B.   Bermudez 
Carupano.  ' 

530.  SANTA  MARIA  {ArisiolocJiia  spec).     Used  as  a  tonic. 

53-1.  ARRAYAN-ROOT.     The  very  astringent  root  of  a  myrtaceous  iilant  a 
decoc'tion   of  which   is   recommended  in  the  treatment  of  dysentery 
Exhib.  >,at.  Mus.,  Caracas.  ^' 

532.  RAIZ   DE    MATO   {Aristoloclda  harhata).     An  excellent  tonic  which 

deserves  the  attention  of  ph3'sicians. 

533.  POLYPODE.     The  rhizome  of  Polypodium  auratum,  used  in  medicine 

as  a  l)lood-puriher  and  auti- venereal  remedy. 

534.  SARSAPARILLA.     Caracas  sarsaparilla  comes    from    a    species    of 

Smilax,  which,  botanically,  is  not  yet  perfectly  known,  as  plants  with 
male  flowers  hitherto  have  not  been  found.  It  is  not  exported  but  only 
used  by  the  druggists  of  the  country,  who  pay  the  collectors  $10  to  .*24 
for  the  quintal  of  dry  root.  The  import  of  foreign  sarsaparilla  is  pro- 
hibited by  the  custom  laws.  * 

535.  SALOMON  BARK  {Iledyosmum  Bourgoini).     Asmalltreebelono-inn-to 

the  lanuly  of  chloranthacete,  growing  in  the  hioher  parts  of  the  inoun- 
tains  of  Merida).  It  is  aromatic,  of  a  somewhat  bitter  and  Dunoent 
taste,  and  used  for  making  bitters.  * 

536.  CUSPA-BARK.     This  is  the  true  Angostura  Bark  of  dru<i-oists   derived 

from  Galipea  (Cusparia)  officinalis.  It  is  sometimes  called'  "(luina 
amarilla,"  /.e.  yellow  quinquina,  and  used  as  an  excellent  tonic  and 
febrifuge.     Exhib.  Nat.  Mus.,  Caracas. 

537.  CINCHONA-BARK  FROM  TOC\JYO  (CincJiona  Tucvjenm)    Thoucrh 

not  containing  much  quinine,  it  is  exported  chiefly  from  Puerto  Cabeiro. 

538.  CINCHONA-BARK,  from  CincJiona  cordifolia,  var.  rotnndifolia      It  is 

exported  from  La  Guaira,  whilst  from  Puerto  Cabcllo  and  Alaracaibo 
C  Tncujensus  is  shipped.  The  fever  barks  of  Venezuela  arc  poor  in 
fJcaloids,  and  cannot  be  used  advantageously  for  their  extraction-  but 
they  are  mostly  employed  for  making  dentifrice.  A  considerable  quan- 
tity goes  to  New  ^  ork.  ^ 


GO  THE   UNITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

539.  SIMARUBA.     Tho  somewliat  hitter  and  tonic  inner  bark  of  Simaruha 

offiriuiilis,  u  tree  which  i.s  rather  common  in  Guayana. 

540.  CUPIS.     The  pungent  and  very  aromatic  h&xk  oi  Drimys  granaiensis, 

used  especially  in  veterinary  medicine.  The  tree  grows  on  the  moun- 
tains in  the  western  part  of  the  Republic. 

541.  TORCO  BARK.      Ts  somewlmt  aromatic,  and  appears  to  come  from 

some  ti"ee  of  tlie  laurel  family.  It  is  occasionally  used  in  medicine  as  an 
aromatic  and  stimulatinii;  remedy. 

542.  ALCORNOQUE     BARK    {BowdicMa  mrgiUoides).      Astringent,    and 

recommended  by  some  as  giving  good  results  in  treating  the  initial 
symptoms  of  consumj^tion. 

543.  CRYi.'EYPO  {Myrofipermumfruiescens).     Both  the  l)ark  and  fruit  of  this 

tree  contain  an  aromatic  resin,  which  has  anti-rheumatic  properties. 

544.  COLA-NUTS.     The  seeds  of  Cola  acuminata,  a  tree  introduced  into  the 

country,  but  now  jierfectly  naturalized  in  various  parts.  The  seeds 
have  lately  been  talked  of  a  great  deal  on  account  of  the  large  percent- 
age of  caffein  they  contain. 

545.  COCA.     (Leaves  and  pharmaceutical  preparations.)    Samples  of  leaves 

of  a  species  of  Eryiliro.ryhim,  Ix^lieved  to  be  the  true  E.  coca  of  botan- 
ists, Tluy'  were  analyzed  in  the  pharmaceutical  laboratory  of  E.  M. 
Genevoix  &  Go.,  in  Paris,  and  yielded  L17  granune  of  cocaine  per 
kilogr.  of  leaves.  I'he  i)lant  ai)pears  to  grow  rather  abundantly  in  the 
country  between  Cuinana  and  ^^laturia  (eastein  i)ait  of  Venezuela),  and 
is  known  to  the  iidiabitants  under  the  name  of  hayo,  which,  however, 
is  common  to  all  the  species  of  Evythro.vyhnn.  Dr.  E.  Bermudez,  of 
Cariipano,  discovered  the  plant  in  18y(),  and  uses  the  leaves  for  making 
two  preparations:  Coca  Wine  and  Cocti  Tincture,  both  of  which  were 
awarded  a  gold  medal  in  the  Paris  Exposition,  1889.  die  first  is  sold 
at  00  cents  a  bottle,  the  second  at  40  cents  an  ounce.  Exhib.  Dr.  B.  Ber- 
mudez, Ganipano. 

546.  ALGALIA  (Musk  Seed).    Tho  f^cedii  of  AhelDioschits  moscliaius,  a  strong 

p?'r(!nnial  of  the  mallow  fanuly,  wliich  is  cultivated  in  certain  parts,  for 
instance,  in  the  valley  of  the  River  Tuy.  The  whole  plant  smells  of 
musk;  the  seeds  are  used  for  scenting  hair-pow'der  and  pomatum. 

547.  OJO  DE  ZAMURO  {Mucuna  pruriens).    Said  to  be  an  efficient  remedy 

for  curing  hemorrhoids,  as  well  as  asthmatic  affections.     R.  Ricart. 

543.  SABADILLA.  Tho.  f^opdf^  of  Schoenocau Ion  ojficinale.  They  contain  a 
jjoisonous  alcaloid,  called  veratrine,  used  especially  in  veterinary  medi- 
cine. For  many  years  Venezuela  was  the  only  country  whence  sabadilla 
was  exporled,  after  the  Mexican  article  had  disapjieared  in  commerce. 
The  quantity  exi)orte(l  is  variable,  but  ranges  from  .'{.OOO  to  5,000  (juintals 
annually.  Lately,  it  appears,  that  in  Gliile  they  make  attempts  to  culti- 
vate the  plant  for  connnercial  pur[)()ses. 

549.  MUSTARD  {Bramca  nigra).     Exhib.  T.  Ghapman,  Goro. 

550.  PUCHERI  (Ocoiea  Pichurim),   from  Ganipano.     Somewhat  bitter  and 

aromnlic. 

551.  TAMARINDS  and  PULP  OF  TAMARINDS.     The  fruits  of  7Wm- 

///•///f/'/.s  r>fv/V/r//^///.sconlain  a  slightly  :ici(l  pulp,  which  is  used  for  jire- 
paring  refreshing  beverages. 


AVOKI.d's   ("OLFMIUAN    kxpositiox.  67 

552.  COPAIBA    {('o)utit\i-ii    cjliri/iiil/.s).     Exported    in-iiicipally   from   Ciudad 

l»(>li\ar   and    jNlaracaibo,    the   latter   ouc  being  considered   o!  superior 
quality. 

553.  CARICARITO  (from  a  l)ur.scraccous  tree,  i)rol)al)ly  a  species  oi  Iledwigui). 

I'scd  tor  iiiakinu  unguents.     I.  Chapman,  Coro. 

554.  TACAMAHACA  {Protium  liepiaphyllum). 

555.  C  ARAN  A  (Protium  Canttut).     Kno^'-n  in  medicine  as  species  of  elemi, 

and  used  for  making  unguents. 

556.  ALOES  (Aloe  hKrlxidcnsis).  Exhib.  I.  Chapman,  Coro.  Used  very 
much  in  mcdii-ine.  '^Fhe  plant  grows  veiy  a])undantly  in  the  States  of 
Falcon  and  Jiarquisimelo,  being  known  under  the  name  of  Zdbila. 

557.  Dr.  M.  M.  Ponte,  Caracas;  elixir  tropical. 

558.  "  "  fever-pills. 

559.  Braun  &  Co.,  Caracas;  Oberto's  pills. 

560.  "  "         surgical  \valer. 

561.  "  "         indispensable  remedy. 

562.  Felipe  Ortega,  Valencia;  prodigious  elixir. 

563.  G.  Sanchez,  ^Maracaibo;  extract  of  sarsaparilla. 

564.  Blanco  Zerpa,  Cumana;  l)alm  of  Manzanares. 

565.  Victor  Manuel  Anselmi,  Yaracuy;  "  Salvavida  "  (life-preserver). 

566.  Pedro  P.  Lucero,  Barc-[uisimeto;  depurating  pills. 

567.  J.  J.  Ponce;  depurating  syrup. 

568.  "  sulphur-soap. 

569.  Isaac  Chapman,  Coro;  depurating  anti-syphilitic  syrup. 

570.  "  "  anti-alcoholic  potion. 

571.  "  "  dentifric  elixir. 

572.  "  "  anti-rheumatic  tincture. 

573.  "  "  vermifuge  pastilles. 

574.  Romulo  Farias,  Coro;  regenerating  syrup. 

575.  J,  M.  Escobar,  Barquisimeto;  depurating  syrup. 

576.  J.  A.  Olivares,  Barquisimeto;  regenerating  drops. 
5'7y.  "  "  sympathetic  balm. 
5-78.                "                           "             cariformina. 

579.  Dr.  Bernardo  Bermudez,  Cariipano;  coca-wine. 

580.  "  "  coca-tincture. 

581.  Malvina  Alguilera  de  Tinoco  ;  Parian  balm, 

582.  Victor  Ramon  Feo,  Caracas;  Venezuelan  panacea. 
^83.  "  "         efficient  ointment. 
^84.                     **  "         universal  injection. 
C85.                     '*  "  powerful  drops. 

CLASS   550.    ESSENTIAL   OILS,  TOILET    SOAPS,  PERFUMERY  AND   COSMETICS. 

586.  SASSAFRAS  OIL. 

587.  F.   Serrano,  Cumana;  .soap. 


G8  THE   UXITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

588.  R.  Soucy  &  Co.,  Caracas;  Portuguese  water. 

589.  "  "  quinine  water. 

590.  "  "  Cologne  water. 

591.  **  "  extract  Marie  Antoinette. 

592.  **  **  extract  violets  of  Parma. 

593.  "  **  triple  concentrated  heliotrope  extract. 

594.  "  "  oil  for  preserving  the  hair. 

595.  Jose  de  la  Paz  Guevara,  Caracas;  hair-preserver. 

596.  I.  Chapman,  Coro;  cascarilla  (finely  ground  egg-shell). 

GROUP   89 — STATIONERY. — CLASS   561.    BLANK    BOOKS   AND   BOOKBINDING. 

597-598.  J.  M.  Herrera  Irigoyen&Co.  ("El  Cojo  "),  Caracas  :  Blank  books. 

599-602.  "  "  ■  Samples  of  bookbinding  in  different 

styles, 

GROUP   101 — FABRICS   OP  VEGETABLE    FIBERS. 

603.  COCUIZA  FABRIC  for  coffee  bags. 

GROUP   103 — FABRICS   OF   COTTON,    ETC. 

604-607.  HAMMOCKS  of  cotton  cloth,  with  rich  trimmings,  made  in  the 
Island  of  .Margarita. 

608.  "CHINCHORROS,"  from  Barquisimeto. 

609.  "  of  (Us2)02')o  fibre  (a  kind  of  Agave),  from  Barquisimeto. 
610-613.  SAMPLES  OF  COTTON  CLOTH  from  Quibor  (Barquisimeto). 
614.  Franc,  de  S.  Perez  &  Co.    Common  cotton  cloth.  Factory  in  Valencia. 

GROUP  103 — WOVEN  GOODS  OF  WOOL. 

615-616.  BLANKETS  FROM  QUIBOR.     Barquisimeto. 

GROUP   104 — CLOTHING. — CLASS   654.    HATS. 

617-620.  HATS  MADE  OF  VEGETABLE  MATTER.  The  loaves  of 
.some  arborcsccnl  grasses  and  palms,  after  lacing  torn  into  narrow  strips, 
bleached  or  dyed/are  much  used  for  making  the  ordinary  hats  worn 
by  the  country  people.  Such  are  the  "sombreros  de  cogollo,"  miide  of 
the  younger  leaves  of  Arundo  saccJiaroides,  whilst  those  from  Mar- 
garita are  made  of  palm  leaves,  and  the  so-called  "sombreros  de  Mara- 
cail)o,"  of  the  leaves  of  certnin  species  of  CaHudovicn.  There  is  in 
the  Exhibit  a  sample  of  bleached  "cogollo."  such  as  is  used  for  making 
the  hats. 

CLASS  656.  BOOTS  AND  SHOES. 

621.  SHOES  AND  BOOTS  manufMctiired  Mud  cxliibited  by  J.  Boccardo  & 

Co.,  Caracas:    Eight  pairs  of  shoes  and  boots  for  ladies;  ten  pairs   of 
shoes  and  boots  for  men  ;  sandals. 

622.  SHOES.     E.xliil).  Francisco  Rodriguez  Cabrera,  Caracas. 

623.  SANDALS.     Exhib.  IT.  IT.  Tlomcro  Garcia,  Valencia. 

624.  SANDALS  from  Quibor  (Barquisimeto). 


world's   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION".  G9 

CLASS  658.    SHIRTS. 

625.  M.  F.  Perez,  Caracas,  shirts. 

626.  Carlos  Casals  {Los  Espaholes),  Valencia :  shirts. 

GRorr  108— travp:ling  equipmp:nts.— class  G81.  canes. 

627.  POLISHED  AND  RUSTIC  CANES  made  of  different  kinds  of  wood. 

GKOrr    111— T.EATirEIl. — class  01)7.    TANNED   LEATHER. 

628-657.  TANNED  LEATHERS,  exhibited  hy  J.  Boccardo  &  Co., Caracas. 
Tliirty  varieties  :  Bhick  .sole  leather  for  harness;  white  and  red  for  shoes 
and  sandals;  calf,  colored  and  uncolored;  goat,  iniitalinii;  morocco  black; 
smooth,  chagreen,  dead,  colored  ;  sheej),  imitating  morocco,  chagreen, 
dead,  colored,  cordovan,  with  the  wool,  imitating  parchment,  etc. 

658.  SOLE-LEATHER  (black  and  red).     Exhib.  H.  H.  Romero  Garcia, 

Valencia. 

659.  SOLE-LEATHER.    Exhib.  Marcano  successors,  Carupano. 

DEPARTMENT  K. 

Fine  Arts. 

group  140.  paintings  in  oil. 

660.  Arturo  Michelena.      The  Death  of  Penthenlea,  or.   The   Comhat  of  the 

Amazons.  The  artist  represents  the  moment  in  which  one  of  the  amazons 
has  seized  the  body  of  their  queen,  slain  in  the  tight,  in  order  to  bring  it 
away  from  the  field  of  battle.     (Obtained  a  prize  at  the  Salon  in  Paris.) 

661.  Arturo  Michelena.     Portrait  of  the  Liberator  Simon  Bolivar,  on  horse- 

back. (From  the  principal  hall  of  the  Legislative  Palace  of  the  State 
of  Carabobo  in  Valencia.) 

662.  Arturo  Michelena.     Charity.     A  wealthy  lady  accompanied  by  her  little 

tlaughter  l)i-ings  some  alms  to  a  poor  sick  woman,  whose  daughter  plays 
with  an  old  basket. 

663.  Arturo  Michelena.      The  Broken  Lance.      A  picador,  whose  lance  gf  t 

broken,  is  closely  pursued  by  the  infuriated  bull  which  has  gored  already 
the  hor.se,  whilst  the  man,  assisted  by  his  companions,  tries  to  climb 
over  the  enclosure  of  the  arena. 

664.  Arturo   Michelena.     The  Hailstorm.     A  mother  with  two  children  and 

an  old  man,  stare  frightened  at  tlie  window  shattered  by  the  hailstones, 
whilst  a  cat  looks  terrified  at  the  scene  from  under  a  cupboard  in  a 
corner. 

665.  Arturo  Michelena.     Charlotte  Corday  cjoinrj  to  the  Scaffold,  accompanied 

by  two  guards,  whilst  the  jailer  quietly  lights  his  pipe.  On  the  right 
stands  the  painter  who  made  her  portrait. 

666.  Arturo  Michelena.     Portrait  of  Gen.  Joaquin  Crespo,  in  campaign,  sur- 

rounded l)y  his  officers  and  aide-de-camps. 

667.  Arturo  Michelena.      Venezuela  Doing  Homage  to  Christopher  Columbus. 

An  allegorical  paintiiur  ;  round  the  pedestal  of  the  great  Discoverer's 
statue  .'il-e  .scattered  l)eautiful  tlowers,  amongst  them  the  "  Flor  de 
^Idijo"  (Catth' !/ a  Moss ia^),  own  of  the  most  splendid  orchids  of  the  rich 
Venezuelan  flora. 


70  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

668.  Arturo  Michelena.     A71  Aniiqnarian  in  His  Cabinet.     Portrait  of  Dr. 

Aristidc's  Jvojas,  a  distiuguislied  historian  and  man  of  letters  in  Caracas. 

669.  Cristobal  Rojas.     The  Purgatory.     An  angel  descending  through  the 

glare  of  the  flames  announces  the  pardon  of  God  to  a  group  of  figures, 
in  which  stands  out  most  prominently  that  of  a  tall  man  with  the  com- 
bined expression  of  despair  and  penitence  on  his  face.  (From  the  church 
of  "  La  Diviua  Pastora"  in  Caracas.) 

670.  Cristobal  Rojas.     A  French  Tavern.     Several  men  and  a  girl  of  the 

laboring  class  are  sitting  at  a  table  and  listen  to  the  waiting-woman  of 
the  place. 

671.  Cristobal  Rojas.     T'he  First  and  Last  Communion.     A  priest  brings  the 

sacrament  to  a  dying  girl  sitting  in  the  lap  of  her  mother. 

672.  Cristobal  Rojas.    A  Girl  Reading.   A  girl  sitting  at  a  window  is  reading 

a  l)0()k. 

673.  Cristobal  Rojas.    An  Old  Beggar. 

674.  Cristobal  Rojas.     An  Eviction.     A  poor  widow  with  two  children,  wiio 

has  not  been  able  to  pay  her  rent,  is  driven  out  by  the  sheriff  from  the 
miserable  garret  she  occupies. 

675.  Christobal  Rojas.     A  Christening. 

676.  A.  Herrera  Toro.      Charity.      In  a  room  wdiere  everything  bespeaks 

poverty  a  mother  is  dying,  a  priest  gives  her  the  last  blessing ;  whilst 
Charity,  personified  as  a  fair  lady  sitting  at  the  bedside,  opens  her 
arms,  tendering  protection  to  the  abandoned  orphans. 

677.  A.  Herrera  Tore.    A  Drop  of  Water.     A  little  child,  holding  under  her 

right  ai'm  an  antique  water-vessel,  is  seated  on  the  large  leaf  of  an  aroid. 

678.  A.  Herrera  Toro.     In  the  Sun.     Two  children  are  standing  lu  the  sun  to 

dry  tlicnisclves  after  their  bath. 

679.  Emilio  Mauri.     Marguerite  Coming  from  Church. 

680.  "  Portrait  of  a  Lady. 

681.  I.  Inciarte,     Buffaloes  grazing  in  the  Roman  Pontines. 

GKOUP   140 — CRAYONS  AND   OTHER  DR  A  WRINGS. 

682.  A.  Herrera  Toro.     Tico  Children  Sitting  in  a  Basket. 

683.  "  Copy  of  the  artist's  painting  C7mn7y.     (See  No.  676.) 

684-685.  M.  M.  Ravelo.     Pell-mell.     Two  drawings  done  with  pen  and  ink 
(Property  of  .Mr.  F.  Vollmer,  Hamburg.) 

686.  Portraits  of  General  Joaquin  Grespo,  President  of  the  United  States  of 

Venezuela. 

DEPARTMENT  L. 

Liberal  Arts. 

group  147. — class  839. 

687.  WATER-FILTER  ("' tinajoro"),  used  all  over  the  country  in  Venezuela. 

Tli(!  water  is  poured  into  tlu!  porous  dripstone,  from  which  it  falls  by 
droi)s  into  a  large  earthen  vessel  called  Ijerncgal.  As  this  is  not  glazed 
and  therefore  very  porous,  evaporation  takes  place  and  keeps  the  water 
(piite  cool,  even  on  v(!ry  hot  days,  (tenerally  a  tin  scoop  is  used  for  the 
purpose  of  taking  it  out  and  tilling  the  likewise  porous  water  bottles 
{pimpinas,  miicuras);  but  in  some  cases  the  ladle  is  made  of  a  more  or 


WORl.D  S   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITIOX.  71 

less  i'l;il)()ratc'ly  carved  cocos-uut  shell,  iiiouiited  in  silver  on  a  Avoodcu 
IimihUc. 

688.  FILTERING-STONE,  from  Cumauu. 

GROUP    l.-)!) — LITERATURE   AND   IJOOKS. — CLASS   854. 

Books  luiiiti'd  and  bound  in  the  eslahlislinicnt  of  J.  M.  ITerrora, 
Triiioycn  tV:  Co.  ("El  Cojo  "),  Caracas,  and  exhibited  by  the  same,  the 
most  important  being  the  following: 

689.  Julio  Calcano,  El  Parna.so  Venezolano. 

690.  Anibal  Dominici,  Comentario  del  Codi,i;o  de  Comercio  Venczolano. 

691.  Tomas  Michelena,  Resumeu  de  la  vida  militar  y  politiea  del  General 

J.  A.  Paez. 

692.  M.  V.  Toledo,  La  Exposicion  Colombina  de  1893. 

693.  Vicente  Mestre,  Cuestionario  del  Derecho  de  la  Guerra. 

694.  **  Dictados  del  Derecho  de  la  Guerra. 

695.  El  Cojo  Ilustrado. 

696.  SAMPLE-BOOK  OF  STYLES  OF  PRINTING. 

697.  SEVERAL  MINOR  PUBLICATIONS,  PAMPHLETS,  ETC. 

698.  E.  Lopez   Rivas,   "Imprenta   Americana,"    ]\Iaracaibo;    Sam])le-books, 

catalogues,  and  several  publications  made  by  the  establishment,  as  for 
instance,  El  Zulid  Ilustrado,  An nuario  e.stad'/stico  de  la  Seccion  Zulia,  Obrds 
jioeiicds  de  Ildefonso  Vazquez,  pamphlets,  etc. 

699.  Testa  Garcia,  Leyendas  de  la  Conquista. 

700.  Pedro  Monasterios,  Arbol  sinoptico  de  las  Composiciones  litcrarias. 

CLASS    8G3.    GOVERNMENT    PUBLICATIONS. 

701.  Memoria  de  la  Alta  Corte  Federal,  1892. 

702.  Memoria  de  Correos  y  Telegrafos,   1892. 

703.  Dictamenes  del  Consejo  Federal,  1892. 

704.  Tercer  Censo  de  la  Republica,  4  tomos  and  "  Kcsumen." 

705.  Boletin  de  la  Riqueza  Piiblica.     3  vols. 

706.  Titulos  de  Venezuela  en  sus  Limites  de  Colombia.     3  vols. 

707.  R.  F.  Seijas,  Limites  con  la  Guayana  Inglesa. 

708.  Anuario  Estadistico  de  los  Est.  Unidos  de  Venezuela.  1891. 

709.  Arist.  Rojas,  Origenes  Venezolanos. 

710.  *'  Miranda  en  la  Revolucion  francesa. 

711.  '*  Objetos  Histdricos  de  Venezuela   en  la  Exposicion   de 

Chicago. 

712.  Recopilacidn  de  Leyes  de  Venezuela.     15  vols. 

CLASS   804.     MAPS. 

713.  MAP  OF  VENEZUELA,  showing  the  extension  of  agriculture. 

714.  "  "  showing  railroads  and  other  means  of  com- 

munication. 

715.  "  **  showing  location  of  nu'nes. 

716.  "         CUMANA. 

717.  MAP  OF  CITY  OF  CARACAS  ((Jen.  Vicente  Mestre). 


72  THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    VEXEZUELA. 

CLASS  871.    PHOTOGRAPHS. 

718.  A  SERIES  OF  80   PHOTOGRAPHS,  mostly  by  F.  Lessmann  (Cara- 

cas), showing  views  from  the  neigli])orhoo(l  of  Caracas. 

719.  ANOTHER  SERIES  OF  PHOTOGRAPHS,  showing  views  on  the 

Guanta-Barcelona  Railroad.     (Taken  by  ,  Barcelona. 

CLASS  928. 

720.  GUITARS.     These  small  4  stringed  guitars  are  the  favorite  instruments 

all  over  the  country  for  the  accompaniment  of  dancmg-music  and  song. 

DEPARTMENT  M. 

Ethnography. 

group  igo.   tools  and  implements  of  the  aboriginal  races. 

721-732.  TOOLS,  ARMS,  ETC.,  of  the  Guagiro  Indians,  who  inhabit  the 

peninsula  Guagiro,  west  of  Maracaibo  :  bridle  made  of  horse-hair, 
w'oman's  hat,  spindles,  reel,  poporo  (used  by  those  who  chew  hayo  or 
coca-leaves),  flute,  bow  and  arrows,  sandals,  bags,  woven  fabrics  of  dif- 
ferent colors. 

733.  INDIAN   HUT  (Tribe  of  Warraus),  from  the  Delta  of  the  Orinoco. 
Exhib.  the  Governor  of  the  Territory). 

734-737.  TOOLS  AND  ARMS  OF  THE  INDIANS  inhabiting  the  Delta  of 
the  Orinoco  :  lance,  arrows,  llutes,  spinning  implement,  etc. 

(Numbers  721  to  737  are  exhibited  in  the  Anthropological  Building.) 

738.  EARTHENWARE  made  by  the  Indians  of  Manicuare. 

739.  TAPARAS.    The  emptied  shells  of  the  calabash  fruit  {Crescentia  cnjete), 

for  carrying  water. 

740.  TAPARI  FAS.     Small  drinking-bowls  made  of  the  shell  either  of  some 

cucurl)it;ic('()us  fruits,  or  of  those  of  Crescentid  cucarhituKi,  a  congener 
of  the  calabash  tree.     Thej^  are  only  used  by  the  poorest  country  people. 

741.  RATTLES.     They  are  called  maracas  in  the  country  and  made  of  the 

emptied  shell  of  the  calabash  fruit,  fixed  on  a  short  handle,  and  con- 
taining some  small  pieces  of  stone  or  grains  of  Indian  corn.  When 
rhythmically  shaken  a  rattling  noise  is  thus  jiroduced,  which  helps  to 
accomi>any  any  other  kind  of  popular  music  or  song. 

742.  YESCA  DE  HORMIGAS,  L  e.,  ants' tinder.     This  substance,  used  as 

tinder  by  the  inhabitants  of  the  Ujiper  Orinoco,  consists  of  tlie  soft  hairs 
of  certain  melastomaceous  plants,  which  are  collected  b}'  a  species  of  ant 
{Polyrhachis  spinieollis)  for  its  nest. 

743.  VERADAS.      The  long  and  slender  axis   of  the  inflorescence  which 

springs  from  the  top  of  the  "cana  amarga"  or  An(udoti<(cch<u'oi(U's.  Every 
inllorescence  consists  of  hundreds  of  tiny  branches  and  l)ranehlets,  bear- 
ing thousands  of  minute  (lowers  (nearly  all  sterile),  the  whole  forming 
a  huge  conical  plume  of  extreme  subtleness,  (piivering  gracefully  with 
the  sliglitest  breath  of  air.  The  "  veradas  "  are  jierfectly  straight  and 
very  light,  although  comjiaratively  strong  and  solid  ;  therefore  they  are 
used  by  the  Indiansasshafts  for  their  arrows,  and  bythe  civilized  people 
as  rocket  ^sticks,  which  are  always  much  iu  demand, 


WOKLD's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  73 


DEPARTMENT  OF  HISTORICAL  OBJECTS. 

744.  COAT-OF-ARMS  OF  VENEZUELA,  wood-carving  by  Malauseua  in 

Caracas. 

745.  TWO  GONFALONS  of  the  City  of  Caracas,  such  as  were  used  in  the 

last  criitury.  Tliey  are  made  of  red  damask  and  sliow  iu  rich  embroid- 
Qry  the  anus  of  Spaiu  and  of  the  city.  They  beiou«i;  to  the  National 
Museum,  and  are  exhibited  by  order  of  the  Government  of  Venezuela. 

746.  STANDARD   OF    PIZARRO.     Gonfalon   carried   by  the   Spaniards, 

under  Francisco  I^izarro,  when  they  made  their  triumphal  entry  into 
Cuzeo,  the  old  cajntal  of  the  empire  of  the  Ineas,  November  16,  1533. 
It  was  deposited  in  the  Temple  of  the  Sun,  which  had  been  (converted 
•  into  a  Christian  cathedral    and  there  it  remained  until  1824,  when  it  was 

presented  by  the  cit}'  authorities  to  General  Sucre,  after  the  victory  of 
Aycucho.  Sucre  sent  the  banner  to  the  Lil)erat()r  Simon  Bolivar,  as 
one  of  the  most  interesting-  trophies,  and  Bolivar  gave  it  afterwards  to 
his  native  city  Caracas,  where  this  precious  relic  is  preserved  in  the  large 
meeting-hall  of  the  3Iunicipal  Council.  The  original  stutl"  was  red 
damask,  of  which,  however,  only  scanty  fragments  remain,  so  that  it 
was  necessary  to  sew  the  embroidered  arabesques  on  another  stuff.  On 
one  side  were  worked  the  arms  of  Charles  V.,  and  ou  the  other  was 
painted  the  Apostle  James  in  the  attitude  of  a  warrior  mounted  on  a 
white  horse.  When  the  banner  was  inclosed  into  the  frame  which  con- 
tains it  now,  this  tigure  was  carefully  cut  out,  and  placed  on  the  other 
visible  side.  Further  information  ou  this  interesting  relic  may  be  found 
in  an  article  written  by  Dr.  Aristides  Rojas,  of  Caracas,  and  published 
in  a  pamphlet,  "Historical  Objects  from  Venezuela  in  the  Exposition 
of  Chicago."     (See  annex  to  this  Catalogue.) 

747.  MEDALLION  OF  WASHINGTON.    This  precious  relic  shows  on  its 

face  a  miniature  portrait  of  AV'ashington,  beautifully  done  by  Stewart 
after  Field's  great  painting,  whilst  the  rear  is  of  deei)  blue  enamel,  inclos- 
ing a  small  glass-covered  oval  with  simie  hair  of  the  North  American 
Cincinnatus.  This  oval  is  surrounded  by  a  gold  plate,  on  which  the 
following  inscription  is  engraved:  Auctoris  Libertdtis  America mt'  in 
Sepienirione  hnnc  Imafjinem  (hit  Filins  ejus  (idopt<(tns  illi  qui  (jlorium 
similem  in  Austro  adeptus  est  (Tlufi  likeness  of  the  author  of  lil)erty  in 
North  America  is  given  by  his  adopted  son  to  the  one  who  achieved  a 
similar  glory  in  South  America).  The  medallion  was  sent  to  Bolivar 
by  George  Washington  P.  Custis,  through  the  intervention  of  (Jeneral 
Lafayette,  in  1825.  After  Bolivar's  death  it  was  jjreserved  by  his  heirs, 
until  one  of  his  nephews  presented  it  to  General  Guzman  Blanco,  some 
time  President  of  Venezuela,  who  ordered  it  to  be  placed  in  the  National 
Museum  in  Caracas.  For  further  details  see  an  article  written  by  Dr. 
Aristides  Rojos,  and  published  in  "Historical  0])jeets  from  Venezuela 
in  the  C-'hicago  Exposition."     (See  annex  to  this  Catalogue.) 

748.  EL  SOL  DEL  PERU.     A  jewel  in  the  shape  of  a  sun,  thickly  set  with 

diamonds,  which  was  jjresented  to  the  Liberator  Simon  Bolivar  in  1825 
l)y  the  grateful  Peruvians,  after  his  having  accomplished  the  emancipa- 
tion of  their  country  from  Si)anish  rule.  It  belongs  actually  to  the 
National  .Museum  at  Caracas,  and  is  exhibited  by  order  of  the  Govern- 
ment of  Venezuela. 


74  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

749.  SWORD  presented  to  Simon  Bolivar  in  Lima  by  Peru,  in  1825,  when  the 

ijnal  defeat  of  the  Spanish  forces  had  secured  the  liberty  and  independ- 
ence of  the  country.  The  blade  is  of  the  tinest  steel  and  richly  orna- 
mented with  arabesques  and  damask-work  inclosing  on  one  side  the 
inscriptions  •  Simon  Bolivar — Union  1/  Lihcrtnd — Afio  de  1825,  and  on  the 
other,  LiheH((do)'  de  Colombia  y  del  Peru — Chungajwnia  me  fecit  en  Lima. 
The  scabbard  is  sheathed  in  gold  and  likewise  covered  by  rich  orna- 
ments, and  the  golden  hilt  is  set  with  quite  a  profusion  of  diamonds. 
Besides  being  a  relic  of  great  historical  interest,  it  is  a  splendid  specimen 
of  workmanship,  and  this  the  much  the  more  so  as  the  artificer  was  a 
man  of  Indian  origin,  to  judge  from  liis  queer  name.  Tlie  sword  was 
kept  for  many  years  by  Bolivar's  descendants  living  in  Caracas,  until,  in 
1888,  the  Government  of  Venezuela  bought  it,  paying  them  about 
$24,000  for  it,  for  the  purpose  of  placing  it  in  the  Bolivar  Plall  of  the 
National  ^Museum.  A  full  description  may  be  found  in  an  article 
Avritten  by  Dr.  Aristides  Rojas,  and  p\d)lished  in  "Historical  Objecls 
from  Venezuela  in  the  Chicago  Exposition"  (Caracas,  1893),  a  transla- 
tion of  which  is  annexed  to  this  catalogue. 

750.  GOLD-EMBROIDERED  SADDLE-CLOTH  presented  1825  in  Lima 

to  the  Liberator  Simon  Bolivar.  It  was  bought  afterwards  from 
Bolivar's  heirs  by  the  ]Municii)al  Council  of  Caracas  and  offered  to  Gen. 
Guzman  Blanco,  who  ordered  it  to  be  placed  into  the  National  Museum 
of  said  city. 

751.  AUTOGRAPH  SIGNATURE  of  the  Liberator  Simon  Bolivar,  on  the 

commission  of  ^Marcos  Otero,  as  second  lieutenant  of  the  militia,  1827. 

752.  SIX  OFFICIAL  DOCUMENTS,  carefully  wiitteu   on  large  vellum 

pai)er,  referring  to  the  translation  of  the  remains  of  Gen.  ,1.  A.  Paez 
fi-om  tlu;  CMty  of  New  York  to  the  capital  of  Venezuela.  Exhib.  Nat. 
Museum,  Caracas. 

APPENDIX. 

753.  COFFEE  ^  washed,  trillado,  pea-berry,  in  parchment).     Exhib.  by  V.iu 

Dissel  ic  Co.,  Maracaibo. 


APPENDIX 


Historical  Objects  of  Venezuela 


AT     THE 


WORLD'S  COLUMBIAN  EXPOSITION. 


KSSAYS 


BY 


ARISTIDES    ROJAS. 


(Translated  from  the  Spanish.) 


Historical  Objects  of  Venezuela. 


A  SANGUINART  and  destructive  civil  war  had  desolated  all 
parts  of  Venezuela  during  the  lirst  eight  months  of  the  year  1892, 
and  when  at  length  towards  the  end  of  the  year  the  Government 
which  issued  from  the  struggle  was  finally  established  in  Caracas, 
its  financial  resources  were  curtailed  to  the  utmost.  Although  the 
establishment  of  a  peace  beneath  which  the  commerce  and  industry 
of  the  country  were  to  have  a  fresh  lease  of  life  and  vigor,  gave 
encouragement  to  all,  the  triumphant  Revolution  could  pay  but 
little  attention  to  preparations  for  a  festival  in  which  all  the  civil- 
ized nations  of  the  world  were  fraternally  to  participate,  and  in 
which  they  were  exerting  all  the  means  in  tlieir  power  to  take  an 
honorable  i:)lace.  Influenced,  however,  by  a  feeling  of  American 
solidarity,  the  Venezuelan  Government  designated  two  commis- 
sioners, so  that  the  country  might  not  remain  entirely  unrepre- 
sented in  the  great  tournament  of  modern  civilization  which  was  to 
take  place  at  Chicago.  This  first  stej),  however,  although  only  of  a 
private  character,  and  simply  intended  to  show  friendly  feeling- 
restricted  by  the  necessities  of  the  moment,  was  inspired  by  con- 
formity with  the  American  spirit  of  ideal  progress  and  it  led  the 
Executive  of  the  Nation  to  give  more  serious  attention  to  the 
Columbian  Exhibition  in  spite  of  the  penury  of  the  Treasuiy  and 
the  ruin  and  desolation  which  had  spread  over  hundreds  of  cities. 
Fully  alive  to  the  difficulties  caused  by  the  sad  condition  in  wliich 
the  civil  war  had  left  the  country,  the  promoters  of  the  Exhibi- 
tion only  requested  that  the  name  of  Venezuela  should  not  be  miss- 
ing in  the  roll-call  of  nations:  all  that  was  wanted  was  that  on  the 
site  to  be  chosen  the  tricolor  flag  should  be  hoisted — the  emblem 
of  our  glories  at  the  time  of  the  great  war,  of  our  tnide,  industr}', 
and  agricultural  wealth,  of  our  intellectual  and  social  development, 
and  generally  of  this  whole  i)eriod  of  our  history. 

77 


78  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

Siicli  was  the  situation  in  the  first  days  of  1893.  The  Govern- 
ment had  to  vanquisli  the  obstacles  which  confronted  it,  to  reestab- 
lish peace,  inspire  confidence,  wipe  out  painful  memories,  and 
acquire  the  good  will  of  its  fellow-citizens.  As  a  means  to  that  end, 
and  obeying  the  noble  inspirations  of  American  fraternity,  it 
decided  on  taking  an  effective  part  in  the  celebration  of  tlie  Fourth 
Centenary  of  Columbus.  There  is  an  occult  force  Avhich  in  nations, 
like  individuals,  operates  at  a  given  moment,  producing  will-power 
and  patriotic  enthusiasm,  and  giving  a  direction  to  the  great  ideas 
which  guide  generations  in  the  conquests  of  the  future. 

We  were  entrusted  by  the  Venezuelan  Government  with  the 
Presidency  of  the  Commission  which  was  to  exhibit  to  the  world 
our  national  wealth,  our  arts,  and  industries;  we  were  saddened  by 
the  panorama  of  ruins,  misery,  and  solitude  which  surrounded  us, 
but  we  did  not  hesitate  to  accept  the  charge:  a  sense  of  duty  sus- 
tained us,  and  in  such  momentous,  rarely  occurring  circumstances, 
duty  is  like  the  kindly  rays  which  light  up  the  desolated  fields  and 
vivify  the  seed  entrusted  to  the  earth  by  the  hand  of  labor. 

AVe  have  met  and  conquered  many  and  varied  obstacles  and 
shall  be  able  to  produce  in  the  great  Columbian  contest  numerous 
samples  of  our  territorial  wealth,  of  the  various  products  of  our 
fertile  zone,  of  our  industries,  of  our  progress.  To  the  tokens  of 
our  natural  and  industrial  wealth  we  have  joined  artistic  treasures, 
tlie  works  of  celebrated  painters  who  have  won  for  themselves 
prizes  of  honor  beyond  the  Atlantic  and  a  place  amongst  tlie  mas- 
ters of  the  art  of  Apelles.  We  could  not  withhold  at  least  some 
contributions  of  Venezuelan  genius  from  that  tourney  of  universal 
progress  which  is  but  a  tribute  to  the  genius  of  America  and  of  its 
immortal  Discoverer.  When  the  great  Republic,  the  daughter  of 
Washington,  strong  in  her  advanced  civilization,  opens  her  ports  to 
receive  the  ships  and  wealth  of  all  nations,  the  monuments  of 
science  and  art  since  the  origin  of  the  human  race,  we  cannot 
refrain  from  appearing  before  that  Areopagus  where  the  august 
shades  of  Washington,  Franklin,  and  Bolivar  will  be  present  with 
that  of  the  great  Discoverer,  of  the  masters  of  art  and  the  apostles 
of  science  since  the  earliest  ages. 

It  was  the  wish  of  the  Government  that  some  of  the  historical 
souvenirs  lovingly  guarded  in  our  museums,  and  which  up  to  the 


world's  columbtax  exposttiox.  79 

present  luivo  never  lel't  our  coiinirv,  should  lig-ure  in  the  great 
tourney,  and  arrangements  have  been  made  to  exhibit  them  at 
Chicago  in  the  Venezuehm  section.  Two  relics  ul'  the  ])eriod  of 
tlie  conquest  and  two  others  of  the  epoch  of  our  independence  have 
been  selected  for  the  purpose.  The  two  first  are  the  coat-of-arms 
of  Charles  V.,  which  in  1527  was  on  the  door  of  the  Municipal 
Building  of  New  Cadiz,  in  the  island  of  Cubagua,  and  the  war  fiag 
with  which  the  conquistador,  Francisco  Pizarro,  entered  the  city  of 
Cuzco  in  1533.  The  modern  relics  are  tlie  sword  of  Bolivar,  pre- 
sented to  him  by  the  city  of  Lima  in  1825,  and  a  medallion  of 
Washington,  a  valuable  gift  which  the  Liberator  received  from  the 
family  of  AVashington,  in  1S2G,  through  the  intermediary  of  Gen- 
eral Lafayette. 

The  coat-of-arms  of  Charles  V.  marks  our  geographical  filia- 
tion in  the  days  when  the  drama  of  Castilian  conquest  opened  on 
the  eastern  coasts  of  Venezuela.  Our  existence  dates  from  the 
beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century,  when  Columbus  had  ceased  to 
be,  and  filibusters  of  all  nationalities  took  possession  of  the  oyster 
beds  of  Cubagua.  This  first  Spanish  settlement,  the  cradle  of  that 
city  of  New  Cadiz  Avitli  which  so  many  sad  memories  are  connected, 
was  prior  in  date  to  any  of  the  cities  of  the  continental  mainland.' 
This  geographical  point  is  the  first  in  the  historical  hierarchy  of 
the  New  World. 

The  standard  of  Pizarro  is  a  lasting  record  of  the  venturesome 
conquest  of  the  Andes  by  the  lion-hearted  men  of  Castile.  At  the 
beginning  of  the  sixteenth  century  these  mountains  became  the 
domain  of  the  Castilian:  in  1819  they  returned  to  the  hands  of  the 
American;  now  conquerors  and  liberators  fraternally  join  to  cele- 
brate common  glories  before  the  august  shade  of  Columbus.  The 
standard  of  Pizarro  is  the  most  brilliant  jewel  of  the  Castilian  con- 
quest, when  our  ancestors  founded  a  civilization  which  lasted  for 
three  centuries.  Conquerors  or  conquered,  they  Avere  always  high- 
minded,  and  on  their  departure  left  us  a  rich  legacy:  their  lan- 
guage, their  religion,  and  their  family  virtues. 

Amongst  the  valuable  historical  souvenirs  of  the  Exhibition 


••  As  it  was  feared  lli.-il  llie  coal -of  arms  of  Charles  V.  ini<jlit  i^et  daiii.-ii^cd, 
we  have  only  forwarded  n  fac-siiidle  to  Chicago. 


80  THE   UNITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

the  sword  of  Bolivar  does  not  represent  war,  but  peace — the  olive- 
branch  —  that  concord  which  the  great  soldier  so  strenuously 
recommended  at  the  hour  of  his  death. 

Finally,  the  medallion  of  Washington  and  the  tokens  from 
Mount  Vernon  constitute  a  tie  which  binds  together  two  American 
nations.  ]5olivar,  the  victorious  (leneral,  bore  the  effigy  of  Wash- 
ington on  his  heart.  The  two  Washingtons  are  joined  in  history, 
and  unite  to  celebrate  Columbus  in  the  prairie  by  the  shores  of  the 
Nortli  American  lakes. 

These  essays  which  accompany  the  historical  souvenirs  sent  by 
tbe  Venezuelan  Government  to  the  Exhibition  of  Chicao-o  do  not 
constitute  a  book,  not  even  a  homage  to  the  memory  of  the  Dis- 
coverer.— They  are  simply  quiet  echoes,  salutations  from  Venezuela 
in  the  great  festival  of  modern  times.  They  are  the  outcome  of 
tbe  love  of  country — pure,  simple,  and  spontaneous  —  nothing 
more. 

Aristides  Rojas. 

Caracas,  May  1,  1893. 


WOIILD'S   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  81 


THE  FIRST  COLONY  IN  VENEZUELAN  WATERS. 

1498-L550. 

I. 

Columbus  in  tlie  Gulf  of  P aria — Discovery  of  Pearls — Courtesy  of 
the  Caciques  of  Paria — The  Oyster-Beds  of  Cubayua — Tlie 
Guay query  Indians — The  First  Castilian  Dish  on  tlie 
Shores  of  the  Continent — Description  of  Cuhagua — The 
Early  Days  of  New  Cadiz — First  Colony — Prosjjerity  and 
Ruin  of  Cuhagua, 

We  read  in  Castilian  chronicles  that  when  from  the  western 
shores  of  the  Gulf  of  Paria  the  natives  first  descried  in  1498  the 
caravels  of  Columbus,  the  lithe  and  graceful  forms  of  the  Indian 
maidens  a^^peared  before  the  discoverers  with  chaj)lets  of  pearls 
twined  around  their  arms  and  necks.  Columbus  inquired  from  the 
first  Indians  who  came  on  board  where  the  pearls  were  to  be  found, 
and  they  informed  him  they  came  from  an  island  situated  to  the 
north  of  Paria,  where  there  were  extensive  oyster-beds. 

The  Admiral,  believing  that  the  pearls  lay  more  to  the  west, 
followed  that  direction  with  his  caravels  and  anchored  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  Paria  river  which  falls  into  the  Gulf.  The  cacique  of 
the  district  and  his  son  entertained  the  officers  of  Columbus  who 
landed  on  that  picturesque  coast.  This  courtesy  need  not  excite 
our  surprise,  for  in  hospital)le  lands  it  has  always  been  an  unwritten 
law  to  treat  with  friendship  the  stranger  disembarking  for  the  first 
time  on  an  unknown  shore.  After  having  tasted  the  tropical  fruiis 
and  the  palm  wine  laid  before  them  by  their  hosts,  each  of  tlie 
officers  received  on  a  dish  of  luitive  earthenware  some  oysters  full 
of  pearls.  They  bore  them  to  the  Admiral  as  a  token  of  their 
reception  in  tliat  hospital)le  region,  whicli  the  Admiral  designated  as 
Tierra  de  Gracia  (Laud  of  Grace).  A  strait  about  two  leagues  in 
breadth  here  breaks  the  line  of  coast  and  leads  to  a  gulf  into  which 


82  THE   UNITED   STATES   OP  VENEZUELA. 

four  rivers  discharge  their  waters.  The  Admiral  distinguished  it 
Avith  the  name  of  Golfo  de  las  Perlas  (Gulf  of  Pearls).  The 
presents  of  the  caciques  had  intensified  his  desire  to  find  the 
precious  shells,  but  it  was  not  there  they  lay. 

Columbus  was  under  the  impression  he  could  not  find  an  out- 
let on  the  western  side,  and  turned  towards  the  north.  He  met 
with  much  difficulty  in  passing  through  the  entrance  of  the  Gulf 
of  Paria  and  o-ave  tlie  name  of  Drao'ou  to  these  straits  on  account 
of  the  anxiety  he  had  felt  whilst  sailing  through  them.  He  breathed 
more  freely  when  he  entered  the  comparatively  oj^en  waters  of  the 
Caribbean,  within  that  group  of  islands  which  iiow  constitute  the 
eastern  portion  of  the  territory  of  Colon.  He  was  seeking  in  a 
northern  direction  the  oyster-beds  which  the  Parian  Indians  had 
described  to  him,  and  he  was  approaching  from  the  southeast  an 
island  to  which  he  gave  the  name  of  Margarita,  when  he  descried 
on  the  eastern  shore  of  another  island  native  divers  plunging  into 
the  water,  and  returning  to  the  surface  laden  with  oysters. 
Columbus  had  at  length  discovered  the  oyster-beds  of  Cubagua, 
situated  between  Margarita  and  Coche.  The  surface  of  this  island 
Avas  arid,  without  either  water  or  woodland,  and  the  Guayquery 
fishermen  were  its  only  visitors.  Yet  it  was  there  that  opposite 
the  Parian  coast  a  city  was  to  rise — that -New  Cadiz  which  boasted 
of  its  wealth,  its  buildings,  and  its  trade,  and  which,  in  the  course 
of  time,  was  to  disappear  in  the  midst  of  the  convulsions  of  nature, 
when  both  Indians  and  pearls  had  vanished,  and  the  inhabitants, 
who  during  fifty  years  had  lived  on  its  produce,  abandoned  it  as  if 
its  soil  were  accursed. 

Anxious  to  establish  relations  with  tlie  natives  who  had 
gatlicrcd  on  the  coast  and  were  contemplating  the  Castilian  vessels, 
C()luml)us  sent  off  a  boat  Avith  a  sailor  bearing  a  dish  of  Valencian 
earthenware.  As  soon  as  the  sailor  reached  land,  an  Indian  woman 
who  stood  preeminent  in  the  group  attracted  the  sailor's  attention 
on  account  of  the  pearl  chaplets  she  bore  on  her  neck,  and  he 
turned  toward  her,  making  signs  and  offering  her  the  dish.  Tlie 
woman  understands  him  and  moves  nearer:  the  sailor  breaks  the 
dish  in  two,  throws  her  the  pieces,  and  she  places  before  him  in 
return  (he  collar  of  ])carls  which  had  adorned  her  throat. 

The  boat  then   returns  to  the  caravels  and  Colnmbus,  full  of 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  83 

joy,  coutoinplates  a  land  which  presents  to  him  so  many  marvelous 
aspects.  Another  boat  witli  oHicers,  all  provided  with  Valencian 
dislies  and  toys,  then  goes  ashore.  The  Indian  women  dispute 
with  each  other  for  the  possession  of  the  dishes,  giving  up  their 
bracelets  and  chaplets  in  exchange  for  what  seemed  to  them  more 
desirable— the  earthenware  adorned  with  colored  figures  whose 
ellect  was  heightened  by  the  enamel,  and  which  they  now  saw  for 
the  first  time. 

Thus  the  first  Castilian  earthenware  ever  seen  on  the  northern 
coasts  of  South  America  excited  the  simple  admiration  of  the 
Guayquery  tribes,  wiio,  with  delirious  delight,  offered  the  rich 
pearls  they  had  obtained  from  the  bosom  of  the  Caribbean,  in  order 
to  procure  these  specimens  of  European  ceramic  art.  From  hut  to 
hut  and  from  tribe  to  tribe  the  Valencian  dishes  were  admired  like 
gifts  that  had  come  doAvn  from  heaven.  Two  civilizations  were 
thus  meeting:  one  beautified  by  art,  poAverful,  intelligent,  clothed; 
the  other  possessing  only  the  art  of  nature,  hospitable,  ignorant, 
and  naked.  Surprise,  joy,  and  desire  Avere  reciprocal  ;  both  Indians 
and  Castilians  rejoiced.  Columbus  alone  was  sad  at  heart,  for  he 
felt  he  had  discovered  that  first  opening  through  which,  like  an 
impetuous  avalanche,  insatiable  cupidity  was  to  overwhelm  the 
land,  and  that  no  human  power  could  close  the  breach.  Anxious 
and  fearful  for  the  future,  and  disregarding  the  requests  of  his 
officers  who  wished  to  make  a  longer  stay,  the  Admiral  weighed 
anchor  and,  passing  between  the  mainland  and  the  island  of  Mar- 
garita, sailed  toward  Ilispaniola. 

The  first  hour  of  a  sanguinary  drama  had  struck  in  which  all 
participants,  animate  and  inanimate,  were  finally  to  disappear  : 
oyster-beds,  buildings,  victims,  and  murderers,  Indians  and  con- 
quistadores,  after  fifty  years  of  rivalry  aiul  oppression. 

What  is  Cubagua,  aiuI  where  is  it  situated  ?  When,  in  the  geo- 
logical ages  of  America,  a  line_  of  submarine  hills  rose  parallel  to 
the  Cordillera  of  the  Venezuelan  coast,  their  summits  appeared 
above  water  and  constituted  tlie  chain  of  islands  running  east  and 
west  and  which  now  form  the  territory  of  Colon.  Cubagua,  placed 
between  Margarita  and  Coche,  is  one  of  these  islands.  It  was  an 
arid  plateau,  waterless  and  treeless,  bearing  only  briars  and 
brambles,  and   entirely   uninhabited.     Since  prehistoric  ages  its 


84  THE    UNITED    STATES   OF    VENEZUELA. 

only  visitors  were  the  Indian  fisherman  who  came  to  draw  from 
the  deej)  waters  around  it  the  pearls  which  were  to  adorn  the  necks 
and  arms  of  the  Parian  maidens.  But  from  the  day  when  the  con- 
quistador, thirsting  for  adventure,  glor}^  and  gold,  discovered  the 
hidden  wealth  of  the  island  it  was  reduced  to  slavery.  Water  was 
o])tained  from  the  Cumana  river,  wood  and  fodder  from  the  neigh- 
l)oi'ing  island  of  Margarita,  food  and  articles  for  domestic  use  from 
Castile.  The  natives  befriended  the  adventurers  ;  exchange  of 
products  led  to  commerce  and  everything  seemed  smiling  and  pros- 
perous until  cupidity  made  its  appearance  in  war  harness  and  a 
struggle  ensued  in  which  the  strong  subdued  the  weak. 

It  was  written  that  once  the  peninsular  invader  had  found  the 
pearl,  slavery  and  death  for  the  Indian  were  to  follow  as  a  necessary 
consecpience. 

Shortly  after  the  departure  of  Columbus  the  first  ranch  was 
erected  on  the  eastern  coast  of  Cubagua  ;  then  came  sheds  and 
temporary  stores — the  first  caravel  anchored  off  the  coast  and  with 
it  the  first  pearl  dealers.  The  Guayquer}^  divers  set  to  work  with 
enthusiasm  and  plunged  into  the  Avaves  to  obtain  the  oysters  which 
were  the  first  object  of  traffic  between  Venezuela  and  the  Eurojiean 
market.  Little  by  little  arose  the  city  which  was  to  bear  the  name 
of  New  Cadiz,  and  gradually,  too,  arose  a  tide  of  cupidity  until  it 
broke  through  all  bounds  and  the  unfortunate  Indians  had  to  cower 
under  the  lash,  aiul  the  hot  iron,  the  ignominious  sign  of  slavery, 
marked  their  foreheads  and  arms. 

Cubagua  is  the  first  point  where  wealth  was  wrung  from  the 
native  ;  the  first  colony  from  which  the  conquistador'  was  to 
despoil  Venezuela  ;  the  great  slave  market  which  opens  the  history 
of  Spanish  conquest  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  continent.  It 
was  the  trystin'i-point  where  gathered  the  filibusters  who  hunted 
down  the  native  families,  and  of  all  those  evil-doers  who,  like 
monsters  from  the  a])yss,  destroyed  in  fifty  years  all  that  Providence 
had  granted   to  those  regions  :  the  pearl  beneath  the  waters  aiul 


(')  In  Mcconbinco  with  the  practice  of  some  writers  we  liave  left  in  the 
English  text  the  Spanish  word  "  Concpiistiulor  "  ;  its  literal  nu'aninuj  is  con- 
(picror,  but  Sp.'inish  writers  apply  it  to  all  the  e.'irly  Caslilian  residents  in 
America,  even  if  the}"^  took  no  direct  part  in  warfare. — Translator's  note. 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  85 

the  Indian,  free,  lK)8i)ital)le,  lover  of  his  home,  but  who  was  (hjomed 
tosiiccumb  InMiealh  hunger  and  sulfering. 

Cubagua  was  the  cradle  of  Spanish  colonization,  a  fair,  a 
colony,  an  execution  ground,  a  prison,  and  a  tomb.  Thither  were 
l)r()uglitl)y  kidna[)pers  from  all  points  of  the  coast  native  families 
to  be  sold  into  slavery.  1'here  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  meaning  of 
that  scarlet  C  which  furrowed  amidst  screams  of  pain  the  foreheads 
of  the  mothers,  the  youths,  the  children,  torn  from  their  homes  to 
be  conducted  as  slaves  to  Hispaniola.  It  may  have  meant  Castile, 
Carib,  Cubagua  ;  this  matters  little,  but  it  left  on  the  body  of  the 
freeman  the  stamp  of  opprobrium  and  death. 

The  day  dawned,  and  with  it  sounded  the  crack  of  the  lash  on 
the  shoulders  of  the  Guayquery  diver.  But  few  minutes  were 
granted  to  him  to  breathe,  and  his  only  reward  for  so  much  fatigue 
was  a  small  amount  of  food  and  a  perhaps  limited  water  supply  to 
quench  his  devouring  thirst.  Then  when  night  arrived  the  prison 
chamber  and  chains  were  his  lot,  until  another  day  of  labor  and 
pain  came  round. 

In  1527,  New  Cadiz,  the  ancient  city  which  in  the  Venezuelan 
isles  was  antecedent  to  that  of  Cumana,  obtained  a  corporation  and 
the  coat-of-arnis  of  the  Spain  of  Charles  V.  appeared  on  the  doors 
of  the  municipal  building.  There  were  then  in  the  city  fine 
houses,  churches,  and  stores;  numerous  dealers  in  pearls,  water, 
comestibles,  and  all  necessaries  of  life,  frequented  the  city,  thus 
encouraging  industry  and  trade. 

New  Cadiz  throve  on  this  infamous  slave  traffic,  but  it  was  to 
have  but  a  short  lease  of  life:  this  Sodom  of  cupidity  was  to  dis- 
a[)pear  amidst  the  convulsions  of  the  earth  and  by  the  breath  of 
the  hurricane.  One  day  in  1543  the  edifices  of  Cubagua  tottered 
and  fell;  the  winds  blew  fiercely  and  New  Cadiz  ceased  to  exist. 
'A  few  years  later  the  oyster-beds  became  exhausted  and  the  few 
remaining  inhabitants,  deprived  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  fied  to 
other  parts.  Fifty  years  after  its  discovery  by  Columbus,  Cubagua 
became  again  what  it  had  been  in  prehistoric  times — a  desert  with- 
out water  or  vegetation.  The  city,  the  oyster-beds,  and  the  Indians 
had  disappeared  and  the  island  is  now  oidy  the  tomb  of  a  race 
sacrificed  on  the  altars  of  avarice  and  cu[)idity. 

When  the  European  traveler  sails  along  the  coast  where  New 


86  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

Cadiz  once  existed,  it  is  with  difficulty  he  can  bring  before  his  mind 
the  events  which  there  took  place  in  the  first  half  of  the  sixteenth 
century;  he  may,  perhaps,  not  even  inquire  what  is  the  origin  of 
those  ruins  washed  by  the  waves  of  the  Caribbean,  perhaps  to  hide 
them  from  our  gaze.  If  the  dead  could  arise  from  the  tomb,  we 
would  hear  some,  now  free  from  the  persecution  of  man,  tell  their 
misfortunes,  their  martyrdom;  others  would  relate  the  infamy  they 
had  perpetrated  in  life  and  perhaps  regret  they  cannot  continue 
their  course  of  crime  in  the  abyss  of  Death. 


\\()i:i>l)'.S    COLUMillAX    EXI'OSITIOX.  87 


II. 

Jh'j)((rh(rc  of  C'olunibiis  fur  Jlis/xnu'dla — I/i.s  Silence  ConrprniiKf 
the  Discover n  of  Pearls — Ex])e(litions  which  Folio ired  IJuit  oj 
CohjDihus — First  Settlements  of  Adrentnrers  in  Cnbayua — 
Origin  (f  its  Inhabitants  and  Trade — r>((d  Treatments 
Inflicted  on  the  Indians  —  Dicers  from  the  liahamas  — 
Berjinnimjs  of  Lawlessness — Sales  of  Slaves — Tlie  King's 
Fifth — Cnbayua  /m1509 — Formal  Decrees  for  the  Settlement 
of  the  Island — Situation  (f  the  Colonij  in  151;] — Intentions 
of  the  Royal  Audience  of  Ilispaniola — System  Followed  for 
the  Foundation  of  the  Capital — First  Expedition  of  Caribs 
Against  Cubagua — Victory  of  the  Spa?iiards — Laiclessness 
in  the  Gulf  of  Cariaco — First  Fortress  on  the  Banks  of  the 
Cumand  River — Siibstanticd  Buildings  Erected  in  Xew 
Cadiz — Another  Indian  Invasion — Flight  of  the  Inhabitants 
of  Cubagua — Revels  of  the  Invaders — Return  of  the  Span- 
iards with  an  Aimed  Expedition — Reconstruction  of  the 
Church  of  Xew  Cadiz — Privileges  Granted  by  the  King — 
First  Filibusters  in  Margarita  and  Cubagua — Details  of 
these  Events — Complete  Triumph  of  the  Spaniards. 

Fifty  years  of  02)pressioii,  horror,  and  crime  were  to  follow  the 
departure  of  Columbus  from  the  waters  of  Cubagua  and  Margarita.' 
Perhaps  in  the  Admiral's  mind  there  loomed  a  presentiment  of  the 
period  of  devastation  which  was  to  follow  the  discovery  of  thejiearl 
fisheries.  Thus  only  are  we  able  to  ex})lain  the  silence  he  observed 
concerning  the  unexpected  richness  of  the  oyster-beds  in  his  cele- 


'  The  line  wliicli  sliows  the  route  of  Columbus  after  leaving  the  Gulf  of 
Paria,  according  to  Coda/.zi,  passes  eastward  of  the  islands  of  Margarita, 
Cubagua  and  Cochc,  and  at  a  considernbh'  distance  from  them.  Fiom  this 
we  might  infer  that  Cohunbus  did  not  visit  these  islands;  but  the  tracin'^^  of 
Navarrete  passes  through  the  Canal  which  separates  Cubagua  from  Margarita, 
and  from  there  trends  towards  TlisjiMniola,  thus  indicating  that  the  Admiral 
stopped  between  the  islands  of  Margarita  and  Cubagua. 


8S  THE  uxiTKi)  stath:s  of  yexezuela. 

brated  letter  to  the  Catholic  sovereigns,  which  is  a  remarkable  sum- 
mary of  the  third  voyage  of  the  Discoverer  of  America.  This 
studied  silence  and  his  noncompliance  with  the  wishes  of  his  officers 
who  had  requested  him  to  remain  a  few  days  more  in  this  favored 
region  show  clearly  that  Columbus  Avas  anxious  to  keep  this  dis- 
covery secret.  This,  liowe¥er,  was  impossible.  Iveports  exaggerated 
by  the  cupidity  of  the  bearers  soon  reached  the  ncighboriiig  AVest 
India  islands,  and  somewhat  later  were  spread  on  the  other  side  of 
tlie  Atlantic.  Alluriiig  visions  of  untold  wealth  tempted  seekers 
and  adventurers  of  every  kind. 

Hardly,  therefore,  had  Columbus  left  the  waters  of  the  New 
Andalusia  of  the  future,  when  adventurers  from  llispaniola  began 
to  visit  Cubagua  in  search  of  wealth.  The  first  expedition  which 
followed  the  route  of  Columbus,  is  that  of  Ojeda,  which  took  jilace 
in  1499.  This  companion  of  the  Admiral  traded  Avith  the  fisher- 
men of  Cubagua,  coasted  westward,  discovered  the  gulf  of  Coqui- 
vacoa,  extended  the  discoveries  of  Columbus,  and  then  returned  to 
Spain.  A  little  later,  tlie  expedition  of  Kino  and  Guerra  took 
place.  They  remained  some  time  in  Margarita  and  Cubagua,  and 
collected  a  large  quantity  of  pearls  and  other  articles  of  trade. 
This  exi)edition,  which  added  much  to  the  geographical  knowledge 
of  the  Continent,  had  some  unfortunate  consequences  for  the 
explorers.  Although-  they  handed  over  to  the  authorities  a  con- 
siderable number  of  pearls,  as  the  king's  fifth,  tliey  w^ere  accused  of 
not  having  given  in  the  proper  amount,  and  ])rosecuted.  No  proofs, 
however,  were  found  against  tliem,  and  they  came  triumphaiitl}^ 
out  of  the  ordeal,  with  the  envialde  re^nitation,  according  to  Navar- 
rete,  of  having  achieved  the  most  profitable  voyage  which  u])  to 
that  tiuie  had  taken  place  in  the  New  World.' 

The  next  ex})edition  after  that  of  Nino  and  Guerra  Avas  that  of 
Vicente  Yanez  Pinzon,  brother  of  Pedro  Alonzo,  which  sailed  from 
Spain  in  the  latter  part  of  the  same  year,  1499.  This  conquistador, 
a  former  companion  of  Colum))U8,  discovered  the  Amazon  in  1500. 
After  overcoming  many  ol)stacles  in  the  waters  of  the  great  river, 
he  managed  to  return  to  the  gulf  of  Paria  and  sailed  afterwards 
for  llispaniola.     The  voyage  of  Nino  and  Guerra  had  been  produc- 


'  Navarrcte.  — "  Colcccion  dc  viajt-s  y  (Icscubiimieiitos." 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION-.  89 

tivo  of  wealth,  but  that  of  Piiizoii  was  disastrous  and  fruitful  in 
advcniures  only;  he  was  suedby  his  creditors,  and  nothing  remained 
to  him  but  tlie  glory  and  i-emembrance  of  his  discovery. 

In  that  year,  1500,  about  fifty  adventurers  from  Ilispaniola  had 
already  settled  in  the  islaiul  of  Cubagua,  built  ranclios,  raised 
tents  and  huts,  and  introduced  the  apparatus  required  for  oyster 
fishing.  The  fame  of  Nino's  journey,  the  new  pearls  acquired 
from  the  Indians  aiul  the  acquisitions  the  sailors  had  made  in  the 
different  expeditions,  caused  the  luime  of  Cubagua  to  excite  the 
greed  iu)t  only  of  the  Spaniards,  but  also  of  adventurers  from  all 
countries.  The  po})ulation  soon  began  to  increase,  and  each  settler 
traded  according  to  his  aptitudes  or  fancy.  Some  brought  wood 
from  Margarita,  others  transported  water  from  the  Cumana  river, 
seven  leagues  distant;  the  larger  number  worked  the  oyster  fish- 
eries, as  likely  to  be  most  profitable.  At  first  the  Indians  were  won 
over  with  trifies,  brought  over  from  Spain,  and  deceptive  promises, 
the  common  language  of  all  deceivers;  but  within  a  short  time 
cupidity  caused  force  to  be  employed  against  the  unfortunate 
native  and  compelled  liim  to  work  for  the  sole  profit  of  the  specu- 
lators. As  the  fishermen  of  the  immediate  neio-hborhood  were  not 
sutticiently  numerous  to  work  the  fisheries  to  their  full  extent,  a 
large  number  of  Indian  slaves  were  brougirt  over  from  the  Bahanuis. 
Being  good  swimmers  and  divers,  they  gave  a  great  impulse  to  the 
pearl  trade.  These  new  laborers  were  employed  as  if  tliey  were 
only  machines;  after  working  all  day  beneath  a  burning  sun,  badly 
fed  and  worse  treated,  they  were  chained  up  at  night  so  as  to  foil 
all  attempts  at  escaj^e.  The  slave-trade  in  Guayquery  and  Bahama 
natives  became  yearly  more  important,  and  there  were  times  when  a 
good  diver  was  Avorth  150  ducats,  a  sum  wliich  may  be  considered 
as  exorbitant  for  that  period. 

As  it  was  required  that  the  King's  fifth  slunild  be  set  apart, 
fraud  was  practised  to  a  large  extent,  for  in  this  rabble  of  settlers 
there  was  neither  order  nor  method  of  government.  The  only  law 
was  that  of  the  strongest,  and  the  weak  authority  of  the  officials 
sent  to  the  island  by  the  Royal  Audience  of  Ilispaniola  was  set  at 
naught.  Notwithstanding  the  frauds  practised  the  King's  fifth 
rose  at  first  to  15,000  ducats  per  year,  and  it  may  reasonably  be 
supposed  that  the  Grown  was  defrauded  of  at  least  as  much. 


90  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

It  may  be  said  that  Cubagua  was  fully  settled  about  1509  aud 
contained  all  that  was  necessary  for  the  wants  of  an  infant  com- 
munity. The  product  of  the  fifth  had  given  satisfaction  to  the 
King,  and  in  that  year  he  ordered  a  regular  settlement  to  be  estab- 
lished on  the  island.  Don  Diego  Columbus,  Governor  of  His2:>an- 
iola,  received  instructions  to  see  to  the  execution  of  the  regula- 
tions made  by  the  Home  Governnient,  as  it  was  notorious  that  the 
settlers  were  defrauding  the  Crown  of  its  dues,  oppressing  beyond 
measure  the  Bahama  Indians,  and  thereby  inciting  the  natives  to 
insurrection.'  The  prosperity  of  Cubagua  continued  to  increase, 
and  in  1513  the  insolence  of  the  settlers  reached  its  acme.  Infatu- 
ated with  the  wealth  they  had  acquired  through  slave-labor,  they 
disobeyed  the  orders  of  the  Royal  Audience  of  Hispaniola  and 
eluded  its  instructions  in  a  thousand  ways.  The  produce  of  the 
oyster-beds  was  already  waning,  and  the  adventurers  resolved  to 
02:)en  up  a  new  field  of  Avealth.  They  determined,  therefore,  to 
send  out  hunting  parties  in  the  neighboring  districts,  in  search  of 
inoffensive  Indians,  who  were  kiduapped  by  deceit  or  force,  trans- 
ported to  Hispaniola  and  sold  there  into  slavery.  Thus  began  this 
iniquitous  trade,  which  was  followed  later  by  the  introduction  of 
the  African  negro  on  the  American  continent. 

In  order  to  remedy  this  evil,  the  Eoyal  Audience  sent  several 
times  to  Cubagua  inspectors  whose  duty  it  was  to  preserve  order 
and  correct  abuses,  but  its  well-meant  endeavors  were  always  foiled. 
The  judges  were  corrupted,  and  joined  the  ring  of  adventurers, 
which  for  years  had  known  how  to  evade  both  the  instructions  of 
the  Governor  of  Hispaniola  and  the  decrees  of  the  king.  The  only 
result  obtained  by  these  inspectors  was  that  of  introducing  some 
order  and  method  in  the  establishment  of  the  city.  They  super- 
vised the  construction  of  houses  and  determined  the  sites  where 
the  Custom  House,  Government  buildings,  otfices,  and  warehouses 
were  to  ])g  erected. 

In  1515,  when  the  city  boasted  of  all  the  environments  of  a 
civilized  community,  the  islaiul  was  attacked  by  Carib  pirates. 
They  wanted  to  get  a  share  of  the  wealth  tlie  Spaniards  had  col- 
lected, and  had  fixed  in  advance  the  day  on  which  they  assembled 


'  llcncrii.  — "  Illstoriu  dc  las  Indias  occidentales." 


WORLl/8   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  91 

for  the  expedition.  Fortunately  a  vessel  arrived  at  the  very 
inoiiu'nt  of  tlie  attack  and  encouraged  l)y  this  seasonable  aid,  the 
Spaniards  completely  defeated  the  invaders. 

Tlie  i)ossihility  of  native  expeditions  against  the  island  was  not 
the  only  source  of  anxiety  for  its  inhabitants.  All  the  water  for 
the  needs  of  the  community  had  to  be  brought  from  a  distance 
and  this  necessity  was  the  cause  of  constant  trouble  on  the  coast 
of  the  Gulf  of  Cariaco.  The  crafty  Guayqueris  frequently  attacked 
the  crews  of  the  tank-boats  and  hand  to  hand  engagements  ensued 
between  the  Spaniards  and  the  natives.  In  1532  the  construction 
of  the  first  fort  of  Cumana  put  an  end  to  these  skirmishes  and 
Cubagua  continued  to  progress  with  surprising  rapidity.  Stone 
buildings  arose  on  every  side  as  the  wealth  of  the  inhabitants 
increased.  According  to  the  statement  of  one  of  the  conquistadores 
of  Venezuela  who  witnessed  the  development  of  the  colony,  the 
finest  houses  in  Cubagua  belonged  to  Barrio  Nuevo,  Barrera, 
Ilerrera,  Castellanos,  Beltran,  Diego  Caballero,  and  other  magnates, 
who  were  notable  citizens  in  those  early  days  of  Venezuela.  J]ut 
good  fortune  is  transitory,  and  so  much  prosperity  Avas  not  to  be 
unmixed  with  bitterness.'  In  consequence  of  the  destruction  of 
the  monasteries  in  1520  on  the  coasts  of  the  Continent,  through 
causes  we  shall  mention  later,  the  Indians,  victorious  in  Maraca})ana 
ami  Cumana,  again  assailed  the  shores  of  Cubagua.  At  the  news  of 
their  arrival  the  princi2)al  Alcalde,  Antonio  Flores,  lost  heart  and  his 
cowardice  became  contagious.  Nearly  all  resolved  to  fly  to 
Hispaniola,  although  they  had  three  hundred  valid  men,  two 
caravels,  and  arms  and  ammunition  in  abundance.  Embarking  on 
the  caravels  and  other  smaller  vessels  they  abandoned  the  ca})ilal, 
leaving  in  the  hands  of  the  invaders  large  quantities  of  wine, 
victuals,  aiul  valuable  goods.  From  the  sea,  whence  they  wei'e 
watching  their  opportunity,  the  Indians  witnessed  this  cowardly 
flipfht,  and  rushing  on  the  abandoned  city,  put  it  to  sack.  The  vic- 
tors, drunk  with  wine,  celebrated  their  victory  with  wild  revelry, 
plundered  and  destroyed  everything  they  could  reach,  and  then 


'  The  first  historian  of  Venezuela,  Fray  Simon,  tells  us  nothing  concerning 
the  settlement  of  Cul)agua,  and  the  development  and  trade  of  this  island 
during  the  first  thirty  years  of  the  sixteenth  century. 


92  THE    UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

withdrew.  This  unfortunate  event  was  the  cause  of  the  massacres 
of  Ocampo  and  Castellon,  when  the  Cubaguan  fugitives  returned. 
It  was  also  the  occasion  of  the  erection  of  the  first  fort  of  Cumana 

in  1522. 

The  time  had  come  when  the  first  Venezuelan  settlement,  the 
first  commercial  colony  of  the  continent,  was  to  receive  a  name.  By 
order  of  the  Emperor  the  city  was  designated  as  New  Cadiz.'     We 
do  not  know  exactly  what   its  population   then  was,  but  we  may 
reasonably  suppose  that  the  place  contained  over  1,500  inhabitants, 
for  the  solidity  and  number  of  the  houses  were  signs  of  rapid  devel- 
opment.    Later,  in  the  year  1527,  the  Emperor  authorized  the  citi- 
zens  to    select   every  year  from  amongst  themselves  an  ordinary 
Alcalde,  who  was  to  judge  civil  and  criminal  causes;  none  of  the 
royal  officers,  however,  were  eligible.     Eight   Regidors   were  also 
designated.     Their  names  were:  Giraldo  de  Viernes,  Andres^  Fer- 
nando, Vicente   Davila,  Francisco   de   Portillo,  Alonso  de   Kojas, 
Pedro  de  Alegria,  Martin  de  Ochandiano  (who  was  also  made  treas- 
urer   of   the    islaiul),   and    Juan    Lopez    de  Archuleta   who    was 
also  named  inspector  (veedor).     According  to  the  orders   of  the 
sovereign,  one-fifth  of  the  produce  of  the  pearls  was  to  be  set  aside, 
in  whatever  point  of  the  continent  they  might  be  discovered,  aiul 
under  severe  penalties  it  was  forbidden  to  hoard  them,     lie  also 
sent  Pedro  de  los  Rios  to  put  the   Treasury  in   possession  of  the 
pearl  islands.     At  the  same  date  the  Emperor  contributed  five  hun- 
dred dollars  for  the  reconstruction  of  the  church  of   New  Cadiz, 
which  had  ])cen  l)urnt  down.     The  city  received  a  regiment  under 
the  orders  of  Pedro  Ruiz  de  Matienza,  and  the  Emperor  granted  to 
Capt.  Jacome  Castellon  a  coat-of-arms  representing  the  fort  which 
he  had  erected  on  the  Cumana  coast,  and  which  had  contributed 
so  much  to  the  development  of  Cubagua. 

At  the  time  tliese  royal  favors  were  causing  general  satisfac- 
tion throughout  the  colony,  the  Carib  pirates  in  great  numbers 
again  invaded  the  island.  The  attack  was  fiercely  conducted,  but 
the  defense  was  obstinate  and  valorous.  After  a  severe  engage- 
ment victory  remained  with  the  Spaniards,  who  only  lost  a  small 
number  of  men,  whilst  many  natives  were  killed.     One  hundred  of 


^  Nueva  Cadiz,  c;ii)ital  do  hi  i.slu  do  Cubagua,  etc.,  etc. 


world's   C0LUMI3IAK   EXPOSITION.  Do 

tlie  jissailants,  however,  made  good  their  retreat,  and,  embarking 
ill  their  canoes,  attacked  Puerto  Rico  a  few  days  later.  In  conse- 
quence of  these  events,  it  was  allowed  by  royal  decree  to  reduce  all 
Caribs  to  slavery,  as  being  unworthy  of  better  treatment. 

About  the  same  time,  a  citizen  of  Milan,  Luis  Lampugnano  by 
name,  submitted  to  the  Emperor  an  apparatus  of  his  invention  for 
the  oyster  fisheries  in  Cubagua:  no  divers  were  required  to  work  it. 
The  Emperor  granted  him  a  patent  for  six  years,  under  the  condi- 
tion of  the  crown  receiving  one-third  of  the  produce.  The  inhab- 
itants of  Cubagua  were  informed  of  the  concession  obtained  by 
Lampugnano,  and  on  his  arrival  in  the  island  went  out  to  met^t 
him,  saying:  "Return  to  the  Emperor  and  tell  him  that, if  he  is  so 
liberal  in  disposing  of  what  does  not  belong  to  him,  he  does  not 
hold  the  right  to  dispose  of  the  oysters  which  live  at  the  bottom  of 
the  sea." '  Charles  V.  thought  it  best  to  cancel  the  concession,  stating 
it  had  been  made  on  the  condition  it  should  not  encroach  on  the 
territory  of  the  proprietors  of  Cubagua.  On  account  of  this  deci- 
sion Lampugnano  was  unable  to  pay  the  enormous  expenses  of  the 
expedition.  lie  remained  five  years  in  Cubagua,  and  then  died 
insane. 

Up  to  that  time  Cubagua  had  been  the  object  of  the  rapacity 
of  the  Spaniards  only,  but  strangers  were  now  to  follow  the  ])ath 
opened  by  the  conquistadores.  These  were  the  days  in  which  first 
appeared  the  celebrated  filibusters,  whose  only  law  was  force  and 
only  object  rapine.  Towards  the  middle  of  October,  1528,  an 
expedition  of  French  filibusters  arrived  off  the  island  of  Margarita. 
Their  squadron  consisted  of  a  large  ship,  a  caravel  wrested  from 
the  Portuguese  on  the  high  seas,  and  a  tender.  One  hundred  and 
seventy  well-armed  men,  with  the  requisite  war  material,  were  on 
board.  The  pilot  of  this  small  squadron  was  a  Spaniard,  a  native 
of  Cartaya,  Pedro  Ingenio  by  name,  who  had  joined  the  French 
against  his  countrymen.  The  autljorities  of  Cubagua,  aware  of  the 
arrival  of  the  French  at  Margarita,  called  the  people  to  arms,  and 
stood  on  their  guard. 

As  soon  as  the  filibustering  squadron  arrived  off  Cubagua,  the 
port  officials  went  out  in  a  boat  to  find  out  who  the  strangers  were. 


*  Benzoni. — "Historia  del  Nuevo  Muudo." 


94  THE   UNITED    STATES   OF   TENEZUELA. 

To  the  first  questions  of  the  Spaniards,  the  French  answered  that 
their  ship  was  the  Sarco  from  Seville  ;  this  answer  immediately 
betrayed  their  real  purpose,  because  the  Scdxo  had  arrived  some 
time  previously.     With   honeyed  words   the   French   invited   the 
Spaniards  to  come  on  board,  hoping  thus  to  be  able  to  capture 
them  ;  but  the  latter  were  acquainted  with  this  artifice,  which  they 
often  used  against  the  Indians,  and  made  good  their  retreat  to  the 
city,  where  they  warned  their  fellow  citizens  of  their  danger.     The 
filibusters  made  a  feint  of  withdrawing,  but  on  the  following  day 
they  again  entered  the  waters  of  the  harbor  and  endeavored  to 
effect  a  landing.     This,  however,  they  were  unable  to  do,  being 
bravely  met  and  repulsed  by  the  Cubaguans.     The  check  irritated 
the   French   commander:    he   began   to   bombard   the    city;    the 
Cubaguans  returned  the  fire  with  spirit.     The  authorities  of  the 
town  ordered  the  brigantines  and  caravels,  of  which  there  were 
more  than  thirty  then  in  the  harbor,  to  be  armed  at   once.     The 
greater  part  of  the  military  force  and  a  large  number  of  Indians, 
provided  with  poisoned  arrows,  were  embarked  on  the  Cubaguau 
fleet.     They  impetuously  attacked  the   enemy,  and   boarded   the 
caravel,   which   received  them  with  balls  of  burning  pitch  and  a 
severe  musketry  fire.     In  the  struggle  which  ensued  two  Spaniards 
were  put  liors  de  combat,  and  thirteen  Frenchmen  were  wounded 
by  poisoned  arrows,  and  died  in  frightful  agony.     After  this  attack 
hostilities  ceased,  and  the  French  endeavored  to  offer  for  sale  the 
merchandize  they  had  on  board.     An  unexpected  incident,  how- 
ever, foiled  their  purpose.     Some  Biscayans  and  Kavarrcse,  who 
were  prisoners  of  the  invaders,  managed    to  escape  to  land  and 
revealed  to  the  authorities  that  the  Frenchmen  were  simply  free- 
booters, and  that  their  real  object  was  to  take  the  island.     The 
whole  population  then  rose  like  one  man,  and  swore  to  die  or  sink 
the  hostile  ships.     The  brigantines  made  afresh  sally,  and  attacki'd 
the    tender   in   which  they   seized   arms   and   more   than    fifteen 
hundred  ducats'  worth  of  clothing.     Thirty-five  men  of  the  enemy 
were    killed    or    captured.     The  French  were  compelled  to  wiili- 
draw,  and  the  dismantled  scpiadron  sailed  for  the  coasts  of  Puerto 
Kico   and    Mona.     The  filibusters   there   set  free   the   Portuguese 
caravel  they  had  captured  ;  it  made  its  way  to  Ilispaniola,  where 
it  reported  the  events  which  had  occurred. 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  95 

A  powerful  squadron  imniedijitely  sailed  from  San  Domingo  to 
give  oliase.  It  came  up  willi  tliu  Frenchmen,  and  an  engagement 
ensued  wliicli  lasted  for  two  days.  The  tender  was  so  severely 
danuiged,  that,  although  it  made  good  its  escape  during  the  niglit, 
it  foundered  at  sea.  Thus  ended  the  first  expedition  of  foreign 
filihusters  against  Venezuela.^ 

Chroniclers  disagree  concerning  the  incidents  of  this  expedi- 
tion. According  to  llerrera,  the  inhabitants  of  New  Cadiz  entered 
into  friendly  relations  with  tlie  Frenchmen  after  the  first  attack  in 
which  the  latter  were  repulsed.  They  wanted  the  filibusters  to  sell 
their  goods  and  sent  them  two  Spaniards  who  were  to  remain  on 
board  as  hostages,  whilst  the  French  landed  their  goods  and  sold 
them.  The  foreigners,  however,  wanted  to  im])ose  on  the  city  a 
ransom  of  one  thousand  marks  -  of  pearls,  Init  the  Cubaguans 
refused  to  submit  to  this  extortionate  demand.  Herrera  does  not 
mention  any  Spaniard  who  served  as  pilot  on  board  the  filibuster- 
ing squadron,  or  any  who  escaped  ami  took  refuge  in  Cubagua. 
According  to  the  latter  author,  when  the  Frenchmen  began  to  land 
their  goods,  an  Indian  escaped  from  the  cit}?  and  informed  their 
chief  that  the  Cubaguans  had  imprisoned  those  of  his  men  who 
Avere  in  Cubagua,  and  were  planning  a  night  attack  on  the  squadron 
with  the  intention  of  sinking  it.  This  news  caused  the  Frenchmen 
to  weigh  anchor  immediately,  carrying  away  the  hostages  and 
abandoning  their  companions  on  shore.  After  having  burnt  down 
San  German,  in  the  island  of  Puerto  Rico,  and  pillaging  the  island 
of  Mona,  the  chief  of  the  filibusters  wrote  to  the  Governor  of 
Ilispaniola,  complaining  of  the  conduct  of  the  Cubaguans.  He 
further  threatened  to  return  and  execute  ten  Spaniards  for  one 
Frenchnum,  in  case  ill  treatments  were  inflicted  on  liis  countrymen 
detained  in  the  island.  The  only  answer  of  the  Governor  of 
Hispaniola  was  to  give  chase  to  the  filibusters  and  render  them 
powerless  to  carry  out  their  threats. 


'  Fornnndcz  Oviodo  y  Valdcz.  —  "  ITistoria  ironoml  v  natural  de  las  Tndias." 
^  The  mark  was  equivalcut  to  eight  ouuees. — TrunsLator's  note. 


96  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 


III. 

Slave-Hunters  in  Macarajmna — Infamous  Trafflc — Development  of 
Ne20  Cadiz  —  Royal  Oi'dinances  —  Eartliquake  of  1530 — 
Disasters  on  the  Gulf  of  Cariaco — The  Licentiate  Prado 
Endeavors  to  Check  the  Outrages  of  the  Cuhaguans — Meas- 
ures Adopted  bi/  the  Audience  of  Hispaniola — New  Oijster- 
Beds  at  Coche  and  Margarita — TJie  Carib  Indians  are 
Marked  by  Royal  Ordinance — Fresh  Outrages — Decay  of 
Cubagua — Sad  Fate  of  the  Natives — Marking  and  Sale  of 
Slaves — Opinions  of  the  Chroniclers  Benzoni  arid  Las  Casas 
— Descrijotions  More  Horrible  Tlian  Those  of  Dante — Disas- 
trous End  of  New  Cadiz — Hii7'ricane  and  Earthquake  of 
1543 — The  Chronicler  Castellanos — Reflexions — The  Coat-of 
Arms  of  Charles  V. 

The  triumph  of  the  Spaniards  emboldened  the  inhabitants  of 
New  Cadiz,  and  they  did  all  in  their  power  to  develop  the  settlement 
they  had  begun  a  few  years  before  in  Maracapana.  Under  pre- 
tence of  protecting  the  island  against  invasion  on  the  part  of  the 
natives,  the  men-at-arms  who  occupied  this  post,  made  forays  in 
the  surrounding  country,  and  kidnapped  all  the  Indians  they  could 
find.  They  at  once  conducted  the  captives  to  Cubagua  where  they 
were  sold  as  slaves.  Tlie  settlers  of  Maracapana  were  simply  slave- 
hunters.  Amongst  their  leaders  there  figured  a  certain  Ojeda,  who, 
acMMU'ding  to  Las  Casas,  was  the  father  of  the  conqueror  of  Coqui- 
bacoa. 

These  cruel  abuses  necessarily  led  to  the  diminution  and 
destruction  of  the  natives;  harassed  by  the  Spaniards  they  had  to 
light  or  die,  or  fly  to  the  forest  solitudes.  The  King  of  Spain, 
informed  of  this  traffic,  as  illegal  as  it  was  immoral,  forbade 
reducing  the  Indians  to  slavery  and  decreed  severe  penalties  against 
those  who  would  continue  to  molest  them.  The  Cuhaguans  under- 
stood immediately  that  one  of  the  most  important  branches  of  their 
])r()sperous  commerce  was  going  to  disa])pear  and  tliat  the  colony 
would  soou  begin  to  decay.    To  the  vicissitudes  through  which  it 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  97 

had  passed  were  to  succeed  the  convulsions  of  nature — the  earth- 
quake and  the  liurricane.  The  strong  fort  on  the  banks  of  the 
Cuniana  river  had  just  been  completed,  when,  on  the  morning  of 
September  1,  1530,  the  waves  of  the  gulf  of  Cariaco  suddeidy  arose, 
invaded  the  coast,  covered  even  the  tops  of  the  trees  and  lost  them- 
selves in  the  distance.  The  mainland  and  islands  were  shaken, 
fissures  yawned  in  tlie  plains,  a  portion  of  the  hills  sunk  down,  and 
the  cataclysm  continued  during  several  days.  Sulphurous  waters 
arose  from  the  fissures,  one  of  which  was  transformed  into  an  arm 
of  the  sea.  The  Cordillei'a  tottered  under  the  shocks,  many  Indian 
huts  were  swallowed  up,  aiul  the  alarm  was  general  amongst  the 
inhabitants  of  Cubagua  and  the  znainliiiid : 

'"  There  was  now  no  war,  but  the  earth  trembled  and  moved ; 
many  of  the  hills  sank  down  and  spread  destruction  amongst  the 
barbarous  inhabitants  of  the  land  who  were  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  cataclysm.  The  roar  of  the  waves  was  such  that  it  caused 
death-like  fear. 

'^  Many  perished  through  fear  and  left  life  in  anguish.  Those 
who  remained  alive  confessed  the  cause  of  the  evil  they  had  suf- 
fered— it  was  the  iniquity  they  had  committed  against  those  who 
deserved  not  evil.  The  quake  and  turmoil  caused  a  great  part  of 
the  fortress  to  fall.'  " 


'  Pues  en  esta  sazon  faltaiido  giierra 
Hiibo  tan  grau  tc'inl)lor  y  movimiento, 
Que  derribo  de  la  veciria  sierra 
Gran  parte  con  mortal  asolaniieuto: 
Del  biirbaro  veeino  desta  tierra 
Cercano  del  liorrendo  ronipimiento 
Bramidos  de  las  oudas  fueron  tantos 
Qu(!  causaron  niortiferos  espantos. 

De  cuyo  niiedo  niiicbos  perecieron, 
Y  con  tenior  la  vida  despedian; 
Los  que  vivos  quedaron  3a  dijeron 
La  eausa  desde  nial  que  padecian: 
Que  fue  por  las  maldades  que  hicieron 
En  aquellos  que  mal  no  nierecian; 
Tani])ien  del  terrenioto  y  aspercza 
Cayd  grau  parte  desta  fortaleza. 
— Castellanoa. — Elegias  de  varones  ilustres  de  Indias,  1  Vol, 


93  THE   UNITED   STATES   OP   VENEZUELA. 

Little  by  little,  when  the  phenomenon  had  passed  away,  the 
implacable  Castilians  who  were  systematically  devastating  those 
regions,  recovered  their  audacity,  and  continued  satisfying  on  the 
unfortunate  natives  the  worst  appetites  of  avarice,  luxuriousness, 
and  cruelty. 

In  1532  there  came  to  Cubagua  the  famous  Ordaz,  who  was 
returning  from  liis  celebrated  expedition,  the  first  effected  in  the 
waters  of  the  Oriiioco.  It  was  written  that  the  island  of  Cubagua 
should  be  the  last  landing-place  of  that  bold  young  adventurer; 
he  was  arrested  by  the  sergeant-at-arms  of  New  Cadiz  and  shipped 
to  Hispaniola.  One  of  his  countrymen  poisoned  him  during  the 
voyage.  The  Home  Government  was  continually  urging  the  Royal 
Audience  of  Hispaniola  to  maintain  order  in  Cubagua  and  clieck 
the  misconduct  of  the  settlers.  In  1533  the  Licentiate  Prado  was 
ordered  to  meet  the  Alcaldes  and  Regidors  of  New  Cadiz  and  of 
the  town  of  La  Asuncion  in  the  island  of  Margarita.  According 
to  the  instructions  of  the  Royal  Audience,  these  officials  were  to 
constitute  themselves  into  a  commission  and  visit  the  neighboring 
districts  in  company  of  monks  and  sworn  interpreters;  tlie  cus- 
tomary injunctions  were  to  be  made  to  the  Indians  in  presence  of 
a  notary  public.  The  Royal  Audience  wished  by  this  means  to 
acquire  correct  information  concerning  the  war  with  the  natives. 
In  case  hostilities  were  decided,  the  commissioners  were  to  sign  a 
report  to  that  effect,  which  was  to  be  forwarded  to  the  sovereign, 
who  woukl  then  give  orders  to  pursue  the  Indians  as  rebels.  It 
would  have  been  impossible  to  edict  a  measure  more  favorable  to 
the  slave-dealers,  for  the  result  would  infallibly  be  war. 

No  regular  war  declaration,  however,  was  required  to  hunt 
down  the  Indians.  The  produce  of  the  oyster  lisheries  liad  fallen 
off  so  much  in  1531  that  the  dealers  had  to  seek  some  other  branch 
of  trade  in  order  to  obtain  the  same  profit  as  formerly.  On  tlie 
other  side,  the  disorder  and  outrages,  which  the  authorities  of  the 
colony  could  not  repress,  caused  many  of  the  new  adventurers,  on 
their  arrival  in  the  islaiul,  to  take  to  that  line  of  business  in  which 
there  was  least  competition.  There  is  nothing  more  horrible  than 
the  conflict  which  takes  place  on  a  vacillating  raft  during  a  night 
of  shipwreck,  when  all  the  victims,  following  only  the  instinct  of 
st'lt'-preservation,  become  like  wild   beasts   struggling  over  their 


WORLD  S   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITIOX.  00 

prey.  Thus  the  Cubaguaiis,  whilst  the  pearl  banks  were  disap- 
pearing, fought  furiously  with  each  other  to  obtain  possession  of 
the  last  remnants  of  vanislTTng  wealth.  There  was  another  cause 
which  tended  to  diminish  the  celebrity  of  the  oyster-beds  of 
Cubagua:  in  1529  similar  fisheries  had  been  discovered  and  worked 
in  the  waters  of  the  neighboring  island  of  Coche.  The  produce  of 
one  month  only  had  amounted  to  more  than  1,500  marks  of  pearls, 
and  a  minimum  average  of  1:2,000  marks  per  year  was,  therefore, 
to  be  expected.  The  King  had  granted  the  island  of  Coche,  in 
152C,  to  the  former  inspector  of  Cubagua,  Juan  Lopez  do 
Archuleta,  who,  to  show  his  gratitude,  forwarded  to  the  sovereign 
the  first  pearls  found  in  the  new  workings. 

The  existence  of  the  two  fisheries  caused  between  the  islands  of 
Cubagua  and  Margarita  a  certain  amount  of  rivalry,  which 
increased  with  time.  Enmity  and  conflicts  ensued  until,  by  royal 
decree,  Margarita  was  placed  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Cubagua,  and 
orders  were  given  to  complete  the  fort  which  had  been  in  con- 
struction on  the  shore  of  the  former  island.  In  1534,  a  certain 
Jeronimo  de  Ortal  seized  and  marked  Indians  on  the  coast  of  the 
Venezuelan  mainland.  Not  to  be  behindhand,  the  Cubaguans 
joined  this  slave-hunter,  and  incredible  cruelties  were  committed. 
Fortunately  there  is  a  Providence  which  watches  over  the  destinies 
of  mankind,  and  punishes  evil-doers  in  its  own  good  time.  Ojeda 
Ortal,  Cedeno,  and  all  the  promoters  of  the  infamous  slave-trade, 
came  shortly  to  a  miserable  end :  all  were  killed  by  the  natives  on 
the  shores  or  rivers  of  Venezuela. 

This  revenge  of  populations  suffering  from  pillage,  devasta- 
tion, and  the  reduction  to  slavery  of  parents  and  children,  was  but 
just  and  logical;  yet  it  induced  the  Government  to  take  measures 
which  only  increased  the  evil.  In  consequence  of  an  act  of  piratry 
committed  by  Carib  Indians  on  the  coast  of  Margarita,  in  1535,  the 
King  again  decreed  that  the  Caribs  should  be  reduced  to  bondao-e; 
they  were  to  be  considered  as  slaves,  used  as  such,  and  marked,  if 
a  marking-iron  was  available;  an  annual  report  of  the  number  of 
slaves  marked  was  to  be  forwarded  to  the  Home  Government.' 

In  1539  new  oyster  deposits  were  discovered  in  Margarita,  the 


'  Herrera. — Work  previously  quoted. 


100  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

Testigos,  and  Cape  de  la  Vela.  The  zone  of  the  pearl  fisheries  was 
extending,  and  fresh  Spanish  and  Italian  adventurers  were  to  prey 
on  the  wealth  extracted  from  the  moUuscse,  which  during  centuries 
liad  quietly  rested  beneath  tlie  waters.'  Cubagua  wason  the  wane; 
its  pearl  deposits  were  disappearing,  because  the  Indians,  urged,  by 
tlie  insatiable  cupidity  of  the  conquistadores,  had  ended  by  extir- 
pating them,  but  there  were  still  natives  remaining;  on  their 
atldetic  shoulders,  on  the  tender  arms  of  their  children,  the  burn- 
iiig-iron  inscribed  the  deed  of  property,  according  to  the  sentence 
passed  by  legal  cupidity.  This  was  the  state  of  things  in  Cubagua 
when  Benzoni  visited  the  island  in  1542,  in  company  with  some 
slave-dealers  who  traded  in  Paria,  the  coasts  of  Cumaiui,  Cubagua, 
ami  other  places.  The  Italian  sailor  thus  speaks  of  this  horrible 
traffic  of  the  first  Venezuelan  colonists: 

^'  During  our  stay  in  Cubagua,  Captain  Pedro  de  Calice  arrived 
with  more  than  four  hundred  slaves  he  had  collected.  All  these 
unfortunate  beings  were  almost  fainting  either  from  Avant  of 
nourishment,  excessive  labor  and  fatigue,  or  from  the  anguish 
entailed  by  separation  from  country,  parents,  and  children.  If 
some  of  them,  overwhelmed  with  suffering,  were  unable  to  follow 
the  others,  the  Spaniards,  not  wishing  to  leave  any  behind  for  fear 
of  some  conspiracy,  urged  them  forward  with  the  whip  till  some 
would  expire  under  the  blows.  It  was  really  pitiful  to  look  upon 
these  wretched  creatures,  naked,  worn-out,  maimed,  hungry, 
infirm,  or  crippled.  Sorrowing  mothers,  mourning  their  misfor- 
tunes, were  accompanied  by  two  or  three  children;  all  were  bound 
with  ropes  or  chains  round  the  neck  and  arms.  There  was  no 
maiden  amongst  them  who  had  not  been  dishonored.  .  .  .  All 
the  slaves  collected  by  the  Spaniards  were  conducted  to  Cubagua, 
where  the  officials  collected  the  King^s  fifth  in  pearls,  native  gold, 
or  money.  The  letter  C  was  inscribed  with  a  hot  iron  on  the  fore- 
head and  arms  of  all,  and  then   their  owners  did  with  them  what 


'  According  to  Ilcrrcra,  the  pearl  fisheries  produced  two  millions  of  duros 
(lurini;- the  years  of  abundance.  At  first  the  royal  fifth  amounted  to  fifteen 
thousand  ducats  per  year.  According  to  Humboldt  this  was  remarkabk%  if 
the  vahie  of  money  at  that  time  and  the  shameless  amount  of  fraud  is  taken 
into  account.  In  the  first  v^'ars  of  the  fisheries  the  ishind  of  Coche  produced 
1,500  marks  of  pearls  per  mouth. 


WOULD'S   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION".  101 

llii'v  liked,  distributing  them  amongst  the  soldiers,  or  tossing  dice 
for  them."  ' 

This  horrible  description  does  not  sttind  alone.     Here  is  the 
heartrending  narrative  of  Bartolome  de  Las  Casas: 

**  Hardly  liad  the  Indian  pearl  lishermen  issued  from  the 
water  with  a  supply  of  oysters,  when  their  mastei-s  forced  tbcni 
to  dive  again  without  allowing  them  time  to  recruit  their  strength 
and  draw  breath.  If  through  sheer  necessity,  the  Indian  remained 
above  water  a  few  minutes,  the  master's  whip  obliged  him  to  dive 
again.  Nearly  all  the  slaves  thus  employed  died  in  a  short 
time.  They  were  fed  on  the  remains  of  oysters;  occasionally  they 
got  some  cassave  bread,  but  they  never  received  any  wine  or 
strengthening  liquor  to  restore  their  weakened,  boilies,  which  liad 
become  covered  wdth  scales  through  the  continual  contact  of  salt 
water.  At  night  these  poor  creatures  were  confined  in  stocks  and 
loaded  with  chains  so  as  to  preclude  any  possibility  of  escape.  At 
dawn  their  dreary  round  of  w^ork  again  began;  many  disappeared 
devoured  by  sharks;  others  would  faint  away  or  vomit  blood;  most 
of  them  died  of  hunger,  cruel  treatment,  and  despair."  '^ 

This  is  a  picture  unequaled  by  any  of  Dante's  "  Inferno  " — 
human  beings  like  unto  s])ectres,  covered  with  scales,  with  shoul- 
ders furrowed  by  the  whip,  ulcerated,  dying  of  hunger,  alternately 
plunging  into  and  rising  from  the  waters,  bearing  to  their  implac- 
able tormentors  the  prizes  they  had  wrested  from  the  bosom  of  the 
seas. 

This  rising  wave  of  iniquity,  this  infamous  and  never-eiuling 
traffic,  this  continual  assassination  of  defenseless  populations  which 
were  to  disappear  like  the  inhabitants  of  Ilispaniola  and  Puerto 
Rico,  this  holocaust  of  victims  of  the  lash,  slavery,  hunger,  and 
want  of  sleep  did  not  satisfy  the  greed  of  the  conquistadores.  The 
oyster-beds  and  the  inhabitants  of  the  Venezuelan  shores  and 
islands  liad  ceased  to  exist;  the  last  of  the  natives  had  -witnessed 
his  sisters  dishonored  and  his  family  ruthlessly  sacrificed.  But  one 
thing  was  wanting  to  complete  this  picture  of  desolation:  the 
earthquake   and   the   hurricane   came,   overturned    the    buildings 


'  Benzoni. — "  Ilistoria  del  Nncvo  ^Vruiulo." 
"^  Las  Casas. — "  Ilistoria  de  las  ludias." 


102  THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    VENEZUELA. 

erected  by  the  sweat  and  blood  of  the  slave,  and  wiped  out  tliis 
infamous  civilization. 

One  morning  of  1543,  New  Cadiz  was  destroyed,  not  by  the 
action  of  man,  but  by  the  dread  forces  of  Xature.  Castellano  thus 
describes  in  quaint  Spanish  verse  the  last  hours  of  the  doomed  city: ' 

"  The  rain  poured  from  the  skies  in  such  quantities  and  with 
such  violence  that  the  stoutest  courage  was  shaken  and  terror  filled 
the  most  valiant  soul ;  a  dreadful  roar  arose  from  earth  and  sea; 
darkness  and  gloom  supervened. 

"  No  living  thing  felt  its  life  secure ;  the  streets  overflowed  with 
raging  torrents;  none  could  stay  in  abodes  threatened  witli  disrup- 
tion; the  most  secure  asylum  was  replete  with  danger  and  deatli. 

''  Sometimes  men  stealthily  follow  the  track  of  a  criminal ;  their 
arms  and  foresight  cut  off  all  escape;  lances  and  swords  are  placed 
against  his  breast  and  surrounded  by  enemies  he  knows  not  where 
to  turn  in  his  anguish. 

"  Thus  dangers  enclosed  us  on  every  side;  peril  was  met  l)y  leav- 
ing our  abodes,  life  was  risked  by  remaining  within  them;  the 
whole  island  tremljled  to  its  center  under  the  action  of  the  hurri- 
cane; those  were  most  happy  who  had  already  tasted  death. 

"  In  CJod  alone  could  we  trust,  for  there  was  no  help  in  anything 
of  earth.     As  time  passed  the  disaster  increased;  our  habitations 


'  El  agiia  dc  los  ciclos  era  tanta, 

Y  cou  tan  graiules  inipctiis  vonia, 
Que  el  nuis  enteio  brio  se  quehianta, 

Y  el  aiiimo  mas  fuerte  m:is  tcmia: 
Riiido  temoroso  se  levanta 

Que  (le  la  mar  y  tierra  procedia, 
R(;l)reviii()  la  noclie  muy  escura, 

Y  eon  ella  uraiulisima  tristnra. 

No  se  ballabu  ya  eosa  viviente 
Que  tuviese  seguro  de  sii  vida, 
Porque  la  ealle  va  eomo  creeieute 
l)e  rios  eon  fnror  de  la  venida; 
En  las  casas  no  puede  parar  gente 
Por  los  amena/ar  con  su  eaida. 

Y  lo  fjiie  mas  sei^uro  pareeia 
Peligro,  mal  y  muerte  prometia. 


world's  columuiax  exposition.  lo:] 

were  in  continued  motion  and  ull  lied  from  tlieni;  tojivuid  tlio  wiills 
and  ramparts  seemed  to  Ix'  the  most  sure  remedy. 

******* 

*'  Noise  and  uproar  res(junded  ;  tliis  wasno(li'(;ej)tive8iren\ssong. 
Buildings,  lofty  roofs,  and  turrets,  tlie  Abode  of  the  Holy  Sacrifice, 
residences  which  I  have  seen  rich  and  fair,  fell  on  every  side;  tlie 
cry  of  fear,  the  wail  of  affliction  was  heard. 

"The  tem^iest  thi-ew  down  tlie  l)cst  and  strongest  edifices:  tlie 


Bicn  ansi  como  cuanlo  por  accchos 
Sigucii  del  (lelincucntc  las  pisadas, 
Que  con  bastantes  armas  y  pertreclios 
Le  tienen  las  salidas  ocupadas; 

Y  aqiii  le  poneii  lanzas  li  los  peclios, 

Y  alii  iii  nuis  ni  menos  las  espadas, 
■El  dial  siendo  de  taiitos  rodeado 

No  sabe  que  haccrse  de  turbado; 

Saliannos  ansi  desta  nianera 
Aqui  y  alii  peligros  al  cncucntro, 
Plies  era  grande  riesgo  salir  fuera, 
Peligro  de  la  vida  quedar  denlro: 
Tiembla  la  isla  toda  donde  quiera 
Por  aire  coumovida  desde  el  eentro; 
Aquel  que  poseia  niejor  sucrte 
Estaba  ya  gustando  de  la  muerte. 

Solo  de  Dios  se  tiene  coufiauza, 
Que  tie  la  tierra  ya  nadie  se  fia 
Pues  cuanto  mayor  era  la  tardanzii 
Tanto  mas  el  rigor  invalecia: 
Las  moradas  hacian  gran  mudanza 

Y  dellas  cada  cual  se  retraia 
Iluir  de  las  pared es  y  del  muro 
Parecia  remedio  mas  seguro. 
***** 
Oiamos  nnirmurios  y  bullicios, 
No  con  falaces  cantos  de  sirenas; 
Aqui  y  alii  caian  cdificios, 

Las  altas  azoteas,  las  alnienas, 
La  casa  de  los  santos  sacrificios, 
INIoradas  que  yo  vi  ricas  y  buenas; 
Aqui  sonaban  voces  y  alii  gritos, 
Aquellas  con  temor,  estos  aflitos. 


104  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

framework  of  the  strongest  roofs  was  riveii  asunder  by  the  earth- 
quake: terrible  was  the  uproar:  the  crash  of  those  buildings  of 
stone,  the  rending  asunder  of  their  beams  and  bars,  caused  men  to 

stand  aghast. 

******* 

"  Here  was  heard  the  painful  wail  of  the  child  separated  from 
its  mother:  there  the  mother  mourned  for  her  child  as  lost;  some 


Lo  mejor  y  lo  mas  fortalecido 

Cou  la  gran  temi)estad  vicue  caj^endo, 

La  trabazoii  del  teclio  mas  asido 

Con  fuerza  del  temblor  se  va  rompieudo: 

Caiisaba  gran  tenior  aqiiel  niido 

As(mibraba  la  furia  del  e.strucudo 

De  aquellas  derrumljadas  canterias 

Y  quiebras  dc  las  vigas  y  alfajias. 
4«-  *  *  *  * 
Aqui  sonaba  doloroso  llanto 

Del  nino  de  su  madre  divertido, 
Alii  las  mad  res  haccn  otro  tan  to 
Lamcntando  su  bijo  por  perdido; 
Otnis  por  uculhi  con  gran  espanto 
Colgadas  de  los  hombros  del  marido, 
llacen  mayores  ser  los  terremotos 
Confusisimas  voces  y  alborotos. 

Fueron  durables  estos  detrimentos 
Mas  no  con  una  misma  destemi)lanza; 
Al  fin  ceso  la  fuerza  de  los  vientos 

Y  llegaron  las  boras  de  bonanza: 
Ningunos  muertos,  pcro  dcscontentos 
Detenninados  a  luicer  mudanza, 

Por  no  teuer  rccurso  de  vivienda, 
Eso  me  da  soltcro  (pie  con  i)renda. 

Olros  de  nuovas  loyes  ignorantes 
Permanecian  en  sus  desvarios, 

Y  algunos  liombres  viejos  contratantes 
(^ue  tcnian  sus  barcos  y  navios, 

Que  iban  y  veniau  como  antes 
A  contratar  por  otros  senorios 
Angosta  vida,  seca,  miseral)le, 

Y  tal  que  no  podia  ser  durable. 

■ — Castellanos. — "Work  quoted. 


world's   COLUMBIA X   EXPOSITION.  105 

women  wore  l)orne  forth  on  tlie  slioulder.s  of  ihiiir  liusbaiids;  tlie 
eartli([uake  increases  the  confusion  and  clamor. 

''  Lasting  but  unequal  was  the  destruction.  At  length  the  force 
of  the  winds  was  si)ent  and  the  liours  of  calm  arrived;  many  who 
were  not  killed  were  dissatisfied  and  determined  to  cliange  their 
]ial)itation  because  of  the  failure  of  resources  for  the  maintenance 
of  life;  it  was  then  better  to  l)e  single  than  to  possess  a  family. 

"Others  unwilling  to  know  new  laws  remained  in  their  former 
courses;  also,  old  sailors,  the  owners  of  barks  and  l)oats,  came  and 
went  as  before  to  obtain  from  other  domains  a  narrow,  sordid, 
miseral)le  life,  such  as  could  not  be  lasting." 

Thus  disap})eared  New  Cadiz. 

The  earthquake  of  1543  was  only  one  of  the  agencies  which 
contributed  to  the  decay  and  final  ruin  of  Cubagua.  During  thirty 
years  the  oyster-beds  had  been  worked  to  exhaustion,  the  natives 
had  been  sold  and  tortured,  the  inhabitants  of  the  mainland 
exterminated  from  its  shores^,  filibnsters  had  come  and  gone  like  a 
living  tide  with  constant  rise  and  fall;  all  these  causes  jointly 
effected  the  destruction  of  a  settlement  which  was  not  based  on 
the  progressive  wealth  of  nature  and  the  civilizing  action  of  man. 
Notwithstanding  the  decay  of  the  settlement,  the  infamous  slave 
traffic  continued  actively  from  1530  to  1550.  It  was  the  last 
struggle  of  cupidity  and  greed,  feeding  on  these  remains,  like  hye- 
nas on  a' putrefying  carcass.  Fifty  years  had  passed  away  and  the 
principal  conquistadores  of  the  continent  had  gone  to  their  account; 
they  did  not,  therefore,  witness  the  complete  destruction  of  the  first 
colony  of  the  eastern  coast  of  Venezuela.  What  now  remained  of~ 
Cubagua?  The  oyster-beds,  exhausted  and  incapable  of  reproduc- 
tion ;  a  town,  whose  ruins  were  to  become  the  haunts  of  poisonous 
re})tiles;  a  few  living  mummies,  worn  out  by  hunger  and  fatigue, 
with  skins  furrowed  by  the  lash.  Fathers  and  children — two  com- 
plete generations  —  had  disapi)eared:  the  grandchildren  still 
remained  to  bear  the  last  bundles  of  wood,  the  last  casks  of  water. 
T'nder  the  waves  the  corpses  of  their  jirogenitors  mingled  Avith  the 
remains  of  the  oyster,  had  fed  the  sharks  who  had  sated  their 
hunger  with  the  flesh  of  the  native  divers.  ^ 


'  lu  the  main  court  of  the  buikliug  Avhicli  was  expressly  erected  for  the 


lOG  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

According  to  Laet,^  the  natural  sources  of  wealth  of  Cubagua 
liad  disappeared  in  1533;  but  as  the  slave-trade  still  continued, 
the  colony  lingered  till  1550,  when  it  was  gradually  deserted.  It 
became  again  what  it  had  been — what  it  now  is — a  depopulated 
region,  without  vegetation,  without  water,  without  resources  of  any 
kind — a  desert  island. 

Tlius  ended  the  first  Spanish  colony  in  Venezuelan  waters. 
Spain  had  then  just  regained  its  comj^lete  independence  by  expelling 
its  oppressors  of  eight  centuries;  but  the  conquest  of  the  Kew 
World,  so  glorious  in  many  ways,  presents  sinister  aspects. 
Cupidity  overpowered  nobler  instincts;  cupidity  made  man  like 
unto  tlie  beast  of  the  field.  A  race  was  exterminated,  because  it 
was  declared  to  consist  of  savages  and  cannibals,  and,  in  reality,  it 
was  the  invaders  who  were  the  savages  and  the  cannibals.  The 
native  trusted  to  Castilian  generosity,  but  this  generosity  was  only 
a  decoy:  he  believed  in  the  stranger's  promises,  but  these  promises 
were  but  a  lie.  Deceit  and  self-interest  were  veiled  under  the 
appearance  of  j^rotection;  there  was  no  virtue  in  this — only  mean- 
ness. The  crimes  and  infamy  of  the  colonists  were  not,  however, 
so  much  the  fault  of  Spain  as  of  the  intervening  ocean.     Distance 


Exhibition  of  the  Centenary  of  Bolivar,  there  lies  a  coat-of-arms  cut  out  in 
calcareous  Cuniaua  stone.  This  is  the  coat-of-arnis  of  CUiarles  V.  It  remained 
on  the  do(n-  of  the  Corporation  Building-  of  New  Cadiz,  the  capital  of  the 
island  of  Cubagua,  from  1527  up  to  1550,  at  which  date  tlie  causes  mentioned 
in  this  historical  sketch  caused  the  island  to  be  abandoned.  During  centuries 
it  survived  the  destruction  of  New  Cadiz,  and  was  tinally  covered  up  by  the 
sea,  as  the  coast  seems  to  have  sunk  down  through  volcanic  action.  After 
having  long  remained  on  the  soil  and  been  for  many  years  submerged,  it  was 
accidentally  discovered  and  raised  from  under  water  on  the  eve  of  the  Bolivar 
Centenary  in  1883.  This  relic  of  the  first  Venezuelan  colony,  the  only  one  of 
that  period  of  extermination,  is  all  that  remains  to  us  of  the  Cubagua  of  the 
conciuist adores.  The  drawing  which  accompanies  these  pages  is  the  work  of 
the  well-known  artist  and  writer  Don  Francisco  Davegno,  who  published  it  in 
tlie  columns  of  the  Cojo  Ilusirado  in  1892.  In  comparing  it  with  the  orig- 
inal design  of  the  coat-of-arms  of  Charles  V.,  a  difference  can  be  noted.  This 
})i()l)ably  (monies  from  the  sculptor  having  oidy  had  at  his  disi)osal  the  ordinary 
limestone  of  the  locality.  AVhat  the  artist  was  obliged  to  omit  can  easily, 
however,  be  sui)plied  in  imagination. 

'  Laet. — Nobus  orbis. 


world's    rOLU.MBTAX    EXPOSITION.  107 

always  constitutes  an  obstacle  to  truth;  it  renders  the  horizon  dk- 
tant,  and  leaves  crimes  in  the  shade. 

On   the  other  side,  neitlier  time  nor  the  progress  of  historv 
have  been   able  to  modify,  much  less   to   destroy,   the  action   of 
human  cupidity,  the  sister  of  egotism.     Now,  like  in  earlier  times, 
the  lowest  passions  of  the  human  breast  have  always  formed  tlie 
first  stepping-stone  to  conquest.     What  is  taking  place  at  present 
is  a  picture  of  what  has  happened  at  all  times  and  at  all  epochs. 
English  civilization  in  India  was  begun  in  pools  of  blood,  and  inter- 
national-like civil  wars  have  always  had  for   their   motto   greed, 
pillage,  persecution,  and  death.     Fortunately  the  Spain  of  the  con- 
quest knew  how  to  oppose  to  brute  force,  always  destructive,  the 
force  of    reason   and   conviction,   always   civilizing.     Behind   the 
frightful  devastation  Avhich  the  sword  left  in  its  path,  came  the 
civilization  which  arose  in  presence  of  the  apostles  of  the  Gospel. 
These  two  epochs  supplement  each  other,  and  will  always  speak  in 
favor  of    the   great   nation  which,  in  the   New  World,   founded 
modern  society  on  the  ruins  of  the  ancient;  thus,  without  depart- 
ing from  their  anthropological  origin,  many  races  were  transformed 
by  the  education  derived  from  the  Gospel.     The  native  inhabitant 
did  not  dioappear  entirely,  but  underwent  a  complete  metamorphosis. 
If  it  is  the  duty  of  the  philosophical  historian  to  retrace  the 
acts  of  human  societies  without  hiding  their  evil  side,  he  should 
also  penetrate  the  depths  of  each  epoch,  so  as  to  bring  to  light  the 
different  causes  which  have  influenced  these  societies  since  their 
origin. 

It  Yt.^y  be  considered  that  the  Venezuelan  colony  which  fol- 
lows Cubagua  in  date,  was  the  city  of  New  Cordoba,  now  Santa 
Ines  de  Cumanfi,  which  was  begun  in  1521;  also  La  Asuncion, 
capital  of  the  island  of  Margarita,  settled  in  1525.  As  will  be  seen, 
the  New  Cordova  of  Castellon  was  to  folloAV  the  New  Toledo  of 
Ocampo,  origin  of  the  modern  city  of  Cunuinil,  whilst  La  Asuncion 
was  to  CDutinue  under  the  pacific  government  of  ViHaloljos.  As 
to  New  Cadiz,  its  tomb  bears  no  inscription;  it  is  an  ossuary  of 
victims  sacrificed  by  the  knife,  hunger,  thirst,  heat,  and  the  lash; 
the  remains  of  human  bones  and  the  del)ris  of  the  oysier  forma* 
sterile  ai.d  petrified  layer  which  covers  like  a  shroud  the  soil  of  that 
forsakeij  region. 


108  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 


THE  STANDARD   OF   PIZARRO. 

To  the  north  of  the  phiteau  which  contains  lake  Titicaca,  the 
highest  slieet  of  water  on  the  surface  of  the  globe,  and  at  the  foot 
of  the  rocky  mass  in  which  the  Bolivian  Andes  unite  their  various 
branches  to  form  the  gigantic  knot  of  Cuzco,  lies,  like  a  queen  of 
the  mountains,  the  sacred  city  of  the  Incas,  the  Rome  of  the  New 
AVorld,  Cuzco  the  graceful.  The  action  of  time  destroyed  every- 
thing great  and  wonderful  in  the  primitive  liistory  of  America: 
palaces  and  temples  of  gold,  cyclopean  roads  and  fortresses,  idols 
and  objects  of  every  kind,  made  out  of  the  precious  metal  by  the 
labor  of  the  slave.  A  whirlwind  of  cupidity  passed  over  the  land; 
then  came  death,  and  nothing  remained  of.  the  past  but  shapeless 
ruins,  desolate  cities  and  fields,  in  the  midst  of  smiling  and  pro- 
ductive nature,  the  cradle  and  sepulchre  of  two  mighty  races  which 
have  disappeared  in  the  night  of  time.  Both  are  extinct,  but  they 
have  left  the  traces  of  their  wonderful  deeds;  the  one  shows  its 
august  ruins,  the  remains  of  titanic  achievement,  when  the  cyclops 
of  the  New  World  bore  on  their  shoulders  the  ponderous  rocks 
which  were  used  for  constructing  the  Mecca  of  tlie  Andes;  tlie 
other  can  point  to  its  modern  cities,  a  civilization  dating  back 
three  centuries,  its  glorious  banners,  symbols  of  Spanish  greatness, 
when,  not  satisfied  with  filling  the  Old  World  with  the  noise  of  its 
name,  the  sons  of  the  Peninsula  conquered  one-half  of  the  globe, 
in  order  to  plant  on  the  snowy  peaks  of  the  Andes,  and  on  the  most 
elevated  cities  of  the  world,  the  glorious  standard  of  Castile.^ 


'  We  have  read  witli  great  interest  tlie  remarkable  historical  notice  con- 
cerning the  standard  of  Pizarro  in  the  possession  of  the  .Municipal  Council  of 
Caracas,  which  was  published  in  No.  5  of  the  Gojo  Iluatrado  and  which  was 
signed  by  a  writer  who  hides  his  name  under  the  pseudonym  of  El  Cojo  rugil. 
The  documents  which  it  contains  and  the  engravings  which  illustrate  it, 
brought  back  tons  the  memory  of  the  civic  festival  held  in  18T2  in  honor  of 
the  Liberator.  On  that  auspicious  occasion  we  bore  the  standard  of  Pizarro  in 
company  with  two  of  our  colleagues  of  the  Managing  C^ommittee.  The  iKTUsal 
of  the  article  of  the  Cojo  ILustmdo  also  caused  us  to  remember  the  collabora- 


mould's    (OLIMIMAX    KXPOSTTION.  109 

Till'  luinii'  of  this  city,  biitlicd  in  ilu'  mists  of  the  AiuU's,  wliicli 
seem  to  envelop  it  both  us  a  nuptial  veil  and  as  a  shroud,  calls  to 
mind  nniny  a  record  of  sublime  Ijarbarity,  haughty  nuignanimity,  and 
insane  perfidiousness.  In  those  districts  were  seen  the  most  inter- 
esting episodes  of  the  conquest  of  America:  single  combats,  fabu- 
lous battles,  prodigies  of  bravery  and  abnegation,  unending  devas- 
tation, insatiable  cupidity,  and  also  sublime  virtues  and  sacrifices, 
when  those  wild  regions  witnessed  for  the  first  time  the  presence 
of  the  Christian  missionaries,  who  watered  the  Indian  meadows 
with  their  blood,  and  mingled  their  religious  canticles  with  the 
sough  of  the  winds  in  the  primaeval  forests. 

On  the  evening  of  the  15th  of  November,  1533,  the  great 
golden  temple,  erected  by  the  Incas  in  honor  of  the  god  of  day  was 
reflecting  the  last  rays  of  the  luminary  to  which  it  had  been  conse- 
crated, when  the  inhabitants  of  Cuzco  saw  in  the  distance  an  army 
composed  of  men  mounted  on  animals  to  them  unknown.  In 
advance  of  the  rapidly  approaching  strangers  was  borne  a  scarlet 
standard  on  which  were  embroidered  the  arms  of  the  mighty 
monarch  of  Spain  and  Germany.     The  awestruck  Indians  awaited 


lion  of  our  distinguished  friend  Don  Francisco  Davegno,  who  took  part  in  our 
studies  concerning  the  celebrated  standard  of  Pizarro  in  a  historical  and  artistic 
point  of  view.  These  researches  interested  us  both  and  we  believe  our  joint 
efforts  have  contributed  to  a  better  knowledge  of  this  valuable  relic  of  the 
Spanish  conquest.  The  artist  presented  us  with  a  colored  sketch  similar  to  that 
published  in  the  Cojo  Eusirado  and  on  our  side  we  inserted  in  the  columns  of 
the  Opinion  Nacional  of  that  date  an  article  entitled  The  Standard  of  Pizarro, 
which  we  reproduced  later  in  a  work  entitled  A  Bmk  in  Prose. 

"We  are  now  placing  before  the  public  a  second  edition  of  these  researches, 
enriched  with  all  the  additional  information  we  have  been  able  to  gel  from 
South  American  writers  within  the  last  twenty  years  and  we  are  grateful  to  our 
friend  and  colleague  for  having  afforded  us  the  opportunity  of  treating  again 
and  for  the  last  time  such  a  congenial  sul)ject. 

To  conclude,  it  only  remains  for  us  to  reveal  to  our  readers  that  Rugil  is  no 
other  than  Don  Francisco  Davegno,  an  Italian  citizen,  cultured  and  straight- 
forward, kind  and  liberal  in  disposition.  He  is  highly  appreciated  by  the 
Italian  colony  in  Venezuela,  which  considers  him  as  one  of  the  most  persevering- 
workers  of  modem  progress.  \Ye,  Venezuelans,  join  in  applause  wMlh  the 
Cojo  Ilusirado  and  salute  him  as  one  of  the  most  distinguished  guests  of  our 
country.  We  trust  he  will  continue  those  historical  labors  he  has  begun  so 
well. 


110  THE   UNITED   STxVTES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

in  su2)erstitious  fear  the  dawn  of  the  coming  day,  in  order  to  receive 
within  their  walls  these  men  who  seemed  to  them  demi-gods 
descended  from  Heaven;  yet  these  same  fancied  deities  had  just 
murdered  in  the  most  cowardly  manner  the  Inca  Atahualpa.  At 
length  the  gates  are  opened  and  Pizarro,  to  the  sound  of  trumpets, 
and  in  presence  of  an  innumerable  multitude  of  natives,  enters  the 
city  constructed  two  centuries  before  by  Manco-Capac,  the  august 
founder  of  the  Peruvian  monarchy. 

Who  were  these  men,  already  lords  of  America  and  insatial)le 
despoilers  of  the  wealth  of  the  country  ?  They  were  the  heralds  of 
a  new  civilization  which  was  to  destroy  that  of  the  Incas;  they 
were  the  Spain  of  the  Catholic  sovereigns  and  of  Charles  V.,  sent 
by  the  Almighty  to  overthrow  the  idols  of  ^Vmerican  heathenism 
and  at  the  foot  of  the  Cross  to  lay  the  foundations  of  future  gen- 
erations. 

Before  these  men  huts,  2)alaces,  and  temples  disappeared.  The 
lust  of  gold,  characteristic  of  the  epoch,  was  tlie  ruling  motive  of 
all  their  actions,  and  in  the  name  of  the  Cross  and  the  Sword  they 
l^erformed  heroic  deeds  and  committed  unheard-of  crimes.  The 
mountains  trembled  when  the  two  civilizations  met;  the  rivers  and 
meadows  ran  with  blood;  the  unfortunate  natives  succumbed  at 
length  in  this  disproportionate  struggle  with  the  twin  forces  of 
nature  and  their  invaders,  which  enveloped  them  like  the  boa 
encircles  his  victim  in  his  deadly  coils. 

They  fell  on  the  sca(fold  and  the  funeral  pile,  in  the  iields,  and 
in  the  tem])les;  every  rocky  summit  became  a  battlotield;  every 
valley  a  charnel-house,  every  city  a  fortress.  Citizens  and  soldiers, 
caciques  and  Incas,  cottages  and  hamlets  disappeared,  and  the  new 
civilization  soaring  over  pools  of  blood  and  heaps  of  ashes,  laid  the 
foundation  of  the  cities  of  modern  Peru.  ...  In  these  horrible 
butcheries  Almagro  and  the  Pizarros  were  to  meet  the  fate  of 
Iluascar  and  Atahualpa;  in  this  universal  anarchy  a  violent  death 
was  the  doom  of  all  the  actors  of  the  drama  of  blood  and  glory. 

Of  its  native  monuments  of  the  past,  the  actual  city  of  Cuzco 
only  contains  mutilated  remains.  Churches  and  other  buildings 
erected  during  the  fifteenth  century  rise  on  the  site  of  the  ancient 
sanctuary  of  the  sun  and  over  tlie  precinct  where  once  dwelt  the 
Andine  virLaus.     But   that  civilization   which  had  conquered  the 


world's   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION.  Ill 

ocMuitrv  in  the  iijiiiio  ol'  Progress,  and  whicli  during  centuries  was 
to  remain  in  undisturbed  and  legitimate  possession,  was  also  one 
day  to  disa})pear  in  the  name  of  the  same  Progress.  The  time  was 
to  come  when  fanatical,  superstitious,  limited  in  its  ideas,  full  of 
mistaken  economical  theories,  it  closed  its  ears  to  friendly  warnings, 
and  entered  into  a  hand-to-hand  conllict  not  with  the  defenceless 
natives,  but  with  fresh  conquerors,  who  in  the  history  of  the  Con- 
tinent were  to  represent  the  second  act  of  the  American  dranui. 

Who  were  these  new  conquerors  of  Peru  ?  AVere  they,  like  in 
former  times,  strangers  {irrived  from  beyond  the  seas  in  quest  of 
adventure  and  wealtii  ?  No;  they  were  the  sons  of  American 
Spain,  the  heirs  of  its  glories,  its  constancy,  its  errors  and  virtues 
— ready  for  emancipation — the  heralds  of  a  new  idea  which  was  to 
change  the  destinies  of  the  New  World. 

Throughout  Spanish-American  countries  the  Kevolution  began 
in  one  and  the  same  year,  1810.  AVhen,  in  1821,  Colombia  had 
already  reached  independence,  Peru  wjis  in  prey  to  anarchy,  and  the 
cause  of  the  Revolution  might  have  been  considered  as  lost;  but 
the  arrival  of  the  victorious  legions  of  Colombia  under  the  orders 
of  Bolivar,  gave  fresh  confidence  to  the  patriots,  moralized  the  war, 
and  the  final  triumph  speedily  followed.  On  the  Gth  of  August, 
182-4,  Bolivar  won  the  battle  of  Junin.  In  the  first  days  of 
October,  Laserna,  the  last  of  the  Viceroys  of  Peru,  departed  from 
Cuzco,  the  sacred  city,  never  to  return.  On  the  9th  of  December 
rose  the  sun  of  Ayacucho,  and  the  whole  Spanish  army  with  the 
Viceroy  at  its  head  surrendered  as  prisoners  of  war. 

By  a  singular  coincidence,  on  the  very  day  of  the  battle  in 
which  the  military  power  of  the  Viceroy  of  Perii  was  definitively 
crushed,  he  received  the  title  of  Count  of  the  Andes,  which  the 
King  of  Spain  had  conferred  upon  him. 

When  the  first  fugitives  brought  to  Cuzco  the  news  of  the  dis- 
aster of  Ayacucho,  a  committee  of  chiefs  and  the  Koyal  Audience 
recognized  as  Viceroy  Field-Marshal  Tristan,  the  senior  military 
commander  at  Arequipa.  But  an  overwhelming  number  of  victori- 
ous troops  were  marching  on  the  sacred  city.  Tristan  opened  com- 
munications with  Bolivar  and  Sucre,  and  accepted  the  capitulation 
of  Ayacucho.  In  consequence.  General  Alvarez,  resigning  himself 
to  the  inevitable,  opened  the  gates  of  Cuzco  to  the  liberating  legions. 


112  THE    UXITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

The  vanguard  of  the  Colombian  and  Peruvian  army  entered 
the  sacred  city  on  the  24th  of  December,  182-i.  It  consisted  of 
Gamarra's  and  Miller's  commands.  Sucre,  the  commander-in-chief 
of  tlie  victorious  army,  intended  arriving  somewhat  later  without 
making  himself  known;  but  the  population  having  been  in- 
formed of  his  coming  came  out  to  meet  him,  and  conducted  him 
in  triumph  in  the  midst  of  acclamations  of  gratitude  and  enthusi- 
asm. 

Three  hundred  years  after  Pizarro  had  entered  the  caj^ital  of 
the  Incas  as  representative  of  the  great  monarch,  Charles  V.,  Sucre, 
the  trusted  lieutenant  of  the  great  Bolivar,  made  his  entry  to  ren- 
der to  Providence  the  homage  of  his  gratitude  in  the  temple  of 
the  Sun,  now  despoiled  of  its  former  wealth  and  transformed  into 
a  Christian  church.  It  was  in  the  sacred  city  that  the  victor  of 
Ayacucho  found  amongst  the  ancient  banners  of  Castile,  the  stand- 
ard which  Pizarro  bore  when  he  first  entered  Cuzco  in  1533. 

The  mutilated  standard  which  figured  by  the  side  of  the  his- 
torical objects  which  had  belonged  to  the  Liberator,  in  the  Exhibi- 
tion of  October  28,  1872,  and  which  the  managing  committee  of 
the  festival  bore  in  the  civic  procession,  is  one  of  the  most  cele- 
brated historical  relics  in  the  possession  of  the  City  of  Caracas.  In 
this  standard  we  are  reminded  of  the  history  of  three  generations, 
three  glorious  epochs — the  past  under  native  rule,  the  conquest  of 
America,  and  the  glorious  emancipation  of  the  American  family  of 
nations.  This  historical  relic  relates  the  vicissitudes  of  three  cen- 
turies filled  with  grandeur  and  misery,  loyalty,  bravery,  sul)lime 
a])negation.  There  was  during  that  lengtliy  period  mucli  littleness 
and  absurdity,  but  there  were  also  many  instances  of  warlike  ardor 
and  patriotic  pride,  for  these  qualities  have  always  been  held  in 
high  esteem  both  amongst  the  Spaniards  and  their  descendants. 

'^^riie  public  buildings,  the  archives,  the  material  of  war,  the 
l)anners  and  antique  standards,  everything  that  belonged  to  the 
Government  of  the  colony  was  given  up  in  Cuzco  to  General  Sucre. 

It  was  on  tlie  !)Mi  (•!'  DcccmlxM-  tliat  the  celebrated  battle  of 
Ayacucho  was  fought;  on  the  following  day  the  general  in  com- 
mand of  the  victorious  army  took  part  in  the  triumph  of  the  Libe- 
rator and  continued  his  conquering  progress.     On  the  12th,  IGth, 


WORLD^S   COLUMBIAX   EXPOSITIOX.  113 

18th,  and  20th,  he  writes  to  Bolivar  from  Huamanga;  on  the  23cl 
from  Andahuayhis;  on  the  25th  from  .\l)a(;My,  and  on  the  :]Oth 
from  Cuzco.  lie  had  then  arrived  in  the  sacred  city  of  the  Incas 
whicli  received  him  with  rejoicings  and  presented  to  liim  tlie  stand- 
ard of  Pizarro.  This  standard  had  remained  on  one  of  tlie  altars 
of  the  Cathedral  of  the  city,  Christian  since  1533.  The  victorious 
general,  believing  that  no  present  could  be  more  worthy  of  Bolivar 
than  this  historical  relic  of  the  Castilian  conquest,  formally  pre- 
sented it  to  him.  In  a  letter  of  December  30  he  writes  as  follows: 
"  At  length  I  am  writing  to  you  from  Cuzco  in  the  year  1824 
and  at  the  date  inscribed  on  this  letter  there  are  no  longer  any 
hostile  troops  in  Peru.  You  promised  the  people  that  you  would 
bring  the  war  to  a  close  in  the  course  of  this  year,  and  it  is  one  of 
my  greatest  satisfactions  that  you  have  fulfilled  your  pledge. 

'•'I  present  to  you  the  standard  which  Pizarro  bore  to  Cuzco 
300  years  ago:  a  portion  of  the  material  is  in  shreds,  but  it  posses- 
ses the  merit  of  having  led  the  conquerors  of  Peru.  I  believe  you 
will  fully  appreciate  this  trophy.  I  am  not  forwarding  it  at  present 
for  fear  it  may  get  lost:  the  first  trustworthy  official  I  send  you 
will  bear  it.  A.  J.  be  Sucre."  ' 

On  the  24tli  of  February,  1825,  Sucre,  writing  from  La  Paz, 
again  mentions  to  his  chief  the  standard  of  Pizarro,  and  says :  "  I 
am  forwarding  to  you  to-day  under  open  cover  the  dispatches  and 
documents  whicli  are  going  in  duplicate  to  the  Colombian  Govern- 
ment; the  most  important  wull  be  sent  via  Arequipa;  I  have 
entrusted  them  to  an  officer  who  will  also  take  charge  of  the  ban- 
ners I  have  offered  the  Vice-President.  General  Lara  has  at  present 
the  flag  of  Pizarro  in  his  possession,  and  I  have  ordered  him  to 
place  it  in  your  hands  when  he  arrives  at  Arequipa,  because  it  is 
my  wish  that  this  trophy  which  will  be  an  honor  to  your  sons 
should  be  ]nTsented  to  you  when  you  reach  the  first  Colombian 
troops.     The  honor  proceeds  from  the  liberation  of  Peru.' 


»  2 


It  was  quite  natural  for  General  Sucre  to  entrust  fo  one  of  the 
most  distinguished   Colombian  commanders  the  pleasing  ludii  of 


'  C)'F,c;ny.  — "  CorrosixnidciiciM  dc  Sucre." 
■■'  O  Ltury. — ISame  work. 


114  THE    UNITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

presenting  to  the  Liberator,  in  presence  of  tlie  first  body  they  met 
of  the  troops  victorious  at  Ayacucho,  the  intended  guerdon.  The 
presentation  took  phice  with  imposing  ceremonies  when  Bolivar 
entered  the  city  of  Arequipa. 

On  the  23d  of  April,  in  a  letter  dated  from  Potosi,  Sucre  again 
speaks  of  the  royal  banners  he  had  sent,  and  thus  writes  to  Bolivar 
0)1  the  subject :  "  Elizalde  is  going  to  Bogota  to  present  to  the 
Government  the  congratulations  of  the  army;  I  am  thus  fulfilling 
the  instructions  you  gave  me  to  send  a  general  officer,  to  give  an 
account  of  the  battle  of  Ayacucho  and  with  the  official  report  of 
the  action.  As  I  did  not  do  it  at  the  time,  I  determined  to  forward 
it  at  the  termination  of  the  campaign.  I  am  sending  sufficient 
details  to  the  Minister;  I  am  writing  at  length  to  the  Vice-Presi- 
dent, and  am  forwarding  to  him  the  royal  banners  of  these  pro- 
vinces. These  trophies  are  of  no  small  importance,  and  it  is  desir- 
able they  should  be  deposited  in  Bogota.'^  ^ 

At  length  the  officer  bearing  the  banners  intended  for  the 
museum  of  Bogota  and  the  banner  of  Pizarro,  which  was  already 
the  property  of  the  Liberator,  takes  his  departure.  Under  date 
of  April  19,  Sucre  writes  to  the  War  Secretary  of  Colombia  as 
follows : 

"  Brevet  -  Colonel  Antonio  Elizalde,  adjutant -general,  and 
deputed  by  the  Army  for  the  purpose  of  congratulating  IL  E.  the 
Vice-President  for  tlie  hapi^y  determination  of  tlie  campaign  of 
Colombian  troops  in  Peru,  which  has  ended  tlie  War  of  Independ- 
ence, will  have  the  honor  of  presenting  to  you  tlie  royal  standard 
of  Castile.  This  was  the  banner  borne  by  the  Spaniards  when  they 
entered  this  wealthy  country  three  hundred  years  ago. 

"  This  trophy,  which  the  Army  presents  to  Your  Excellency  as 
a  mark  of  respect  and  esteem,  will  one  day  remind  the  children  of 
the  liberators  that  their  forefathers,  filled  wiih  a  patriotic  sense  of 
duty  and  the  sublime  love  of  glory,  boi-e  in  triuinj)li  the  arms  of 
Colombia  to  the  frigid  and  lofty  summits  of  Potosi. 

"  Tie  will  also  place  at  the  feet  of  Your  Kxccllonoy  the  four 
Spanish  fiags  of  the  provinces  of   upper  Peru.      They  were  the 


'  O'Leary. — Same  work. 


world's   COLUMI'.IAN    KXPOSTTTON".  115 

cMiiblems  of  the  vussaliigc  and  slavery  in  wliicli  tliese  regions  were 
kept  by  tlie  descendunts  of  Ferniindo  VI.  These  provinces  have 
now  recovered  their  independence  througli  the  bravery,  constancy, 
and  lioroism  of  the  k^gions  of  the  Kepul)lic. 

'•  The  Army  presents  these  tropliies  as  a  fruit  of  its  labors  to 
tlie  Government  of  its  country.  It  is  also  with  noble  jn'ide  tiiat 
our  troops  inform  you  that  the  enemies  that  oppressed  the  land  of 
Manco-Capac  have  disappeared.  From  Ayacucho  to  Tu j)iza  twenty- 
five  Spanish  generals  have  surrendered^  eleven  hundred  commanders 
and  otlicers,  and  eighteen  thousand  soldiers  have  laid  down  their 
arms  in  the  battlefields  and  garrisons.  We  have  redeemed  from 
the  power  of  tyranny  a  surface  of  four  hundred  leagues  and  two 
millions  of  inhabitants,  who  are  now  thanking  Colombia  for  the 
blessings  of  peace,  liberty,  and  victory  which  you  have  bestowed  on 
them.'^' 

Thi.^  despatch  was  accompanied  by  another,  forwarded  by 
Sucre  from  Cuzco  to  General  Santander,  Vice-President  of  Colom- 
bia, and  from  which  Yanes  publishes  the  following  extract: 

"  I  have  the  honor  of  presenting  to  II.  E.  the  Vice-President, 
in  the  name  of  the  i^rmy,  five  battle-flags  of  the  veteran  Spanish 
regiments  which  enslaved  Peru  by  fourteen  years  of  triumphs. 
The  Army  offers  them  to  you  as  emblems  of  its  obedience  and 
esteem,  and  requests  you  will  deign  to  accept  them.  I  am  sending 
to  11.  E,  the  Liberator,  the  standard  with  which  Pizzaro  made  his 
entry,  three  hundred  years  ago,  into  this  illustrious  caiiital  of  the 
Incas ;  this  trophy  belongs  by  right  to  the  warrior  who  showed  to 
the  Colombian  Army  the  road  of  glory  and  of  the  liberty  of  Peru.''  ^ 

General  Soublette,  Minister  of  War,  forwarded  to  Caracas  the 
standard  of  Pizarro,  as  a  record  presented  by  the  Liberator  to  his 
native  city.  To  this  historical  gift  he  wished  to  add  the  sanction 
of  tlie  Colombian  Government,  and  he  sent  the  following  com- 
munication to  the  Municipality  of  Canicas: 

"  I  have  the  honor  of  presenting  to  the  Municipality  of  Caracas 
in  the  name  of  the  Government  the  royal  Standard  of  Castile  which 


'  O'Leary. — Work  (luotcd. 

-  Yanes.  — "  Coleccion  cle  Dociiineiitos,"  etc.,  Vol.  IV. 


116  THE   UNITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

the  Colombian  army  has  overthrown  in  Peru  under  the  leadership 
of  H.  E.  the  President-Liberator.  The  city  of  Caracas,  as  birth- 
place of  the  Liberator  and  an  inexjougnable  bulwark  of  liberty,  is 
entitled  to  preserve  within  its  walls  this  symbol  of  the  outrages 
committed  by  the  Spanish  Government  in  the  land  of  the  Incas, 
which  at  tlie  end  of  three  centuries  has  been  conquered  by  the 
illustrious  American  whom  Caracas  brought  forth  for  the  happiness 
of  mankind.  The  Executive  believes  that  the  Municipality  of 
Caracas  will  fully  appreciate  this  remarkable  relic  which  other 
cities  would  give  much  to  possess.  The  Executive  further  hopes 
that  in  this  proceeding  the  inhabitants  of  Caracas  will  perceive  a 
new  proof  of  the  esteem  and  consideration  in  which  they  are  held 
by  this  Government.  It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  participate  in 
the  satisfaction  wliich  the  inhabitants  of  Caracas  must  feel  under 
the  circumstances,  and  to  express  to  you  my  sentiments  of  con- 
sideration.— May  God,  etc. — Government  Palace  at  Bogota,  January 
9,  1S2G.— 10."  ' 

The  President  of  the  Municipal  Council  of  Caracas,  Don 
Domingo  N.  Spinola,  under  date  of  February  20,  1S2G,  ans- 
wered in  tlie  following  terms  the  flattering  letter  of  General 
Soublette: 

'^The  Municipality  I  preside  over  appreciates  most  liighly  the 
gift  it  has  received  f rOm  the  Government  through  the  hands  of  Your 
Excellency,  of  the  royal  standard  of  Castile,  overthrown  in  Peru  by 
tlie  Colombian  army,  under  the  leadership  of  Ilis  Excellency  the 
President-Liberator.  The  Members  of  the  Municipality  congratu- 
late themselves  and  the  inhabitants  of  tlie  city  they  represent  on 
coming  into  possession  of  this  record  which  will  remind  them  both 
of  Spanish  tyranny  and  of  the  fresh  glory  acquired  by  the  Liberator 
in  the  ancient  empire  of  the  Incas.  1  have  been  entrusted  with  the 
honorable  duty  of  anirming  through  Your  Excellency  our  feelings 
of  gratitude  towards  the  Government,  and  of  announcing  the  inten- 
tion of  the  Municipality  to  use  these  insignia  in  the  celebration  of 
our  happy  li>tli  of  April. 

''The  Municipal  ('ouncil  also  fully  appreciates  the  special  sug- 
gestions of  Your  Excellency,  conl.-iinctl  in  your  communication  of 


'  Yaues. — Work  (jiiotcd.      Vol.  V. 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  117 

9tli  of  January  lust,  and  I  have  been  instructed  so  to  inform  you. 
May  God  protect  Your  Excellency."  ' 

As  these  documents  show,  the  Council  received  the  standard  of 
Pizarro  on  the  20th  of  February,  182(5,  and  in  its  session  of  that 
date,  whilst  formulating  an  answer  to  the  dispatch  announcing  tlie 
gift  of  a  record  so  suggestive  of  glorious  remembrances,  decreed 
tliat  it  sliould  be  publicly  exhibited  at  Caracas,  on  the  next  anni- 
versary of  the  lOtli  of  April.  This  arrangement  was  carried  out 
and  since  that  date  it  was  preserved  until  the  5th  of  July,  1841.  It 
was  then  carried  in  j)rocession  in  the  solemn  civic  festival  of  the 
day. 

In  order  to  describe  the  standard  of  Pizarro  such  as  it  now  is, 
we  must  go  back  to  the  days  when  it  was  fully  intact  in  Cuzco. 
We  shall  thus  better  be  able  to  appreciate  its  actual  condition 
when  it  has  been  destroyed  partly  by  the  action  of  time,  partly  by 
that  of  man. 

What  is  generally  called  the  standard  of  Pizarro  is,  strictly 
speaking,  sim2)ly  a  banner  or  fan  ion,  such  as  was  generally  used  in 
the  fifteenth  and  sixteenth  centuries.  In  the  days  of  the  Florentine 
Republic  these  fan  ions  were  borne  on  important  holidays  by  the 
President  of  the  Republic,  or  some  other  personage  of  eminent  dig- 
nity; hence,  the  name  of  fanion-carriers  (gonfaloneros)  which  was 
given  to  those  who  had  carried  these  banners.  Later  on,  their  use 
was  confined  to  Christian  churches  and  religious  celebrations; 
indeed,  since  the  first  times  of  Christianity  they  had  been  hoisted 
in  the  churches,  whenever  it  was  considered  necessary  to  raise 
troops  and  to  summon  the  vassals  for  the  defense  of  the  buildings 
and  of  ecclesiastical  possessions  generally. 

The  primitive  field  of  the  standard  of  Pizarro  consisted  in  rich 
damask  of  a  scarlet  color;  of  this  first  tissue  only  small  fragments 
remain;  two  large  designs  made  in  araljcsques  of  the  fifteenth  cen- 
tury, appear  on  each  face  of  the  banner.  Each  of  them  was  one 
liundred  and  twenty-seven  centimeters  in  height  by  one  hundred 
and  fifteen  in  width;  the  material  was  yellow  and  white  satin  fin- 
ished in  blue  with  borders  in  gold  tliread.     One  of  these  arabesques 


'  Yaues. — "Work  quoted. 


118  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF  VENEZUELA. 

still  exists  almost  in  its  entirety,  whilst  of  the  other  there  are  only 
some  remnants.  In  the  center  of  one  of  these  arabesques  there 
was  a  circle  eighty  centimeters  in  diameter,  on  which  were  embroid- 
ered the  arms  of  Charles  V.,  that  is,  those  he  bore  at  that  date,  1533 : 
the  shield  of  Castile  (two  lions,  two  castles,  and  the  imperial  dia- 
dem) ending  in  two  eagle  heads  bearing  separate  crowns.  Of  this 
shield  there  only  remain  two  lions  and  one  of  the  castles.  The 
two  eagle  heads  still  exist  but  the  crown  of  the  left  one  has  dis- 
appeared.  If  there  were  columns  on  the  sides  of  the  shield,  or 
some  of  the  cordons  which  appeared  later  in  the  arms  of  Charles  V., 
there  is  nothing  to  be  seen  of  them  at  present ;  an  attentive  exami- 
nation shows  that  the  escutcheon  is  a  simple  one  compared  with 
the  later  coat-of-arms  of  the  great  monarch. 

When  the  banner  arrived  at  Caracas,  only  one  of  the  faces  was 
complete,  that  of  the  shield;  the  other  had  been  lined  with  white 
satin,  now  in  a  very  deteriorated  condition.  In  that  year,  1826, 
there  were  already  wanting  one  of  the  castles,  the  crown  of  one  of 
the  eagle  heads  and  a  few  small  fragments.  The  Council,  therefore, 
gave  orders  to  place  on  the  banner  a  new  field  of  red  damask,  on 
which  the  two  arabesques  were  attached.  This  historical  relic 
remained  in  that  state  for  many  years,  but  it  was  then  finally  deter- 
mined to  place  it  in  a  frame  in  order  to  protect  it  against  the  van- 
dalism both  of  natives  and  foreigners,  many  of  whom,  on  seeing  it, 
wanted  to  carry  away  some  souvenir  of  their  visit 

We  do  not  know  whether  any  picture  was  discovered  on  the 
standard  of  Pizarro  when  arrangements  were  made  for  placing  it 
in  a  frame;  what  is  certain  is  that  when  we  took  it  out  for  the  fes- 
tival of  1872  we  found  the  most  interesting  portion  of  the  adorn- 
ment of  the  celebrated  banner.  We  are  referring  to  the  warrior 
made  in  painting  and  embroidery  which  figured  at  the  time  of 
Pizarro  on  one  of  the  faces  of  the  banner  in  the  center  of  one  of 
tlie  arabesques;  it  appeared  as  if  it  had  been  concealed  and  attached 
on  the  reverse  of  the  royal  escutcheon. 

This  painting  of  eighty  centimeters  in  diameter  represents  a 
warrior  mounted  on  a  handsome  white  horse.  The  steed  bears  rich 
harness  and  is  going  at  full  gallo]).  The  rider  has  on  his  head  a 
helmet  adorned  witli  })hunos,his  mantle  is  floating  in  the  wind,  the 
red  cross  of  Santiago  stands  out  in  relief  on  the  coat-of-mail  which 


world's   COLUMBIAN"   EXPOSITION.  119 

protects  his  chest,  and  in  liis  right  hand  he  bears  a  sword,  of  wliich 
only  the  liilt  now  remains.  The  fiekl  represents  a  wide  plain  with 
trees  and  plants  in  relief,  helmets,  and  warlike  weapons. 

Although  the  action  of  time  has  unraveled  the  silk  tissue  in 
some  parts  of  the  picture,  the  design,  as  a  whole,  has  lost  none  of 
its  merit.  On  examining  this  antique  piece  of  work,  it  will  he 
seen  that  the  artist  sketched  and  painted  the  whole  scenery  of  the 
background  on  Avliite  satin,  and  then  completed  it  so  as  to  o-ive 
reality  and  perspective  to  the  figure  which  was  to  be  placed  in  the 
center  of  the  banner. 

The  discovery  of  this  portion  of  the  standard  of  Pizarro  gives 
to  this  antique  relic  an  extraordinary  historical  value.  The  pro- 
ficiency of  the  artist  who  executed  the  work  is  shown  by  the  fact 
that  after  having  been  subjected,  during  three  centuries,  to  the 
deteriorating  action  of  the  American  climate,  nearly  all  its  details 
are  still  apparent. 

We  may,  therefore,  affirm  that  in  this  record  of  Pizarro,  now 
in  the  possession  of  the  city  of  Caracas,  there  are  two  distinct 
epochs:  the  first, belonging  to  the  fifteenth  century,  represented  by 
the  two  arabesques,  the  coat-of-arms  of  Castile  and  the  warrior;  the 
second,  of  more  modern  date,  which  at  present  serves  as  a  background 
for  the  primitive  work,  and  which  may  have  belonged  to  the 
vesture  of  some  statue  or  altar  of  the  cathedral  of  Cuzco.  It  is 
really  remarkable  that  a  work  of  embroidery  which  was  damao-ed 
so  long  ago,  and  was  removed  from  Cuzco,  after  having  renniined 
in  that  city  during  three  centuries,  should  now  be  in  such  a  satis- 
factory state  of  preservation,  when  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that  the 
banners  of  Gonzalo  Pizarro,  placed  on  the  tomb  of  President  Gasca, 
in  Vallalolid,  in  15G7,  as  a  trophy  of  Gasca's  remarkable  work  of 
pacification  in  Peru,  have  long  since  fidlen  into  dust. 

Our  distinguished  friend,  the  celebrated  Peruvian  academician, 
Don  Ricardo  Palma,  so  well  known  for  his  accuracy  in  everythino- 
connected  with  tlie  history  of  his  country,  solves  three  questions 
concerning  the  Conquistador  Pizarro  at  the  beginning  of  the  fourth 
series  of  his  remarkable  Tradicioncs.  One  of  them  refers  to  the 
description  and  existence  of  the  war-flag  which  the  conqueror  bore 
to  Peru.  "  After  the  execution  of  Atahual})a,"  says  the  historian, 
"  Dou  Francisco  Pizarro  moved  ou  Cuzco,  and  it  is  our  belief  that 


120  THE   UNITED   STATES  OF   VENEZUELA. 

his  triumphal  entry  into  the  venerable  capital  of  the  Incas  took 
place  on  the  16th  of  November,  1533. 

"'  The  standard  borne  on  that  occasion  by  liis  ensign,  Jeronimo 
de  Aliaga,  was  of  the  kind  which  is  called  by  some  a  banner 
(gonfalon).  On  one  of  its  faces  of  scarlet-colored  damask  were 
embroidered  the  arms  of  Charles  V.;  on  the  other,  of  yellow 
damask  tissue,  was  represented  the  Apostle  Saint  James  (Santiago), 
in  an  attitude  of  combat,  mounted  on  a  white  horse,  bearing  a 
shield,  a  cuirass,  and  a  helmet  adorned  with  plumes  or  feathers,  a 
red  cross  apparent  on  his  chest,  and  with  a  sword  in  his  right 
hand."  ■ 

This  description  agrees  with  that  we  have  given  in  the  pre- 
ceding pages  of  our  monograph. 

"  When  Pizarro  left  Cuzco  to  j^ass  througli  the  valley  of  Jauja 
and  lay  the  foundations  of  tlio  cily  of  Lima,"  adds  Palma,  "he  did 
]iot  do  so  in  war  equipment  and  he  left  liis  banner  or  fanion  to 
adorn  the  former  temple  of  the  sun,  already  transformed  into  a 
Christian  cathedral.  During  the  civil  strife  between  ihe  conquis- 
tadores,  neitlier  Almagrists  nor  Gonzali^ts,  Gironists  nor  Royalists, 
ventured  on  bringing  it  out  to  tlie  fray  and  it  remained  on  the 
altar  as  a  sacred  record." 

Our  reason  for  going  at  some  length  into  these  details  is  that 
we  shall  have  to  quote  them  at  the  end  of  this  monograph. 

Who  is  the  personage  represented  by  the  warrior  delineated  on 
the  standard  of  Pizarro  ?  Is  this  picture  an  effigy  of  the  Apostle 
Saint  James  (Santiago),  the  inseparable  companion  of  the  Spanish 
armies,  or  is  it  simply  an  onuimental  fiction  of  the  artist  ? 

Ilerrera  relates  in  his  Decadas  that  in  one  of  the  many  sangiii- 
luiry  struggles  between  Aztecs  and  Spaniards  in  the  days  of  llernau 
Cortes,  the  Iiulians,  according  to  their  own  testimony,  were  put  to 
rout  by  a  knight  of  gigantic  size,- clothed  in  white,  and  mounted  on 
a  white  horse.  The  rider  attacked  them  sword  in  hand  and 
remained  invulnerable,  whilst  with  his  mouth  and  feet  the  steed 
inllieted  on  them  as  much  injury  as  the  rider  with  his  sword.  The 
Castilians  told   them  that  this  knight  was  the  a2)0stle  of  Jesus 


'  Palma. — "Tradicioncs.'* 


AVOKLI)  S   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION.  121 

Christ,  Saint  James  (Santiago),  whose  lielp  they  invoked  in  battle, 
and  whom  they  always  found  ready  to  come  to  their  assistance. 

Ai^ain,  wo  are  told  l)y  (Jarcilaso,  that  wlien,  after  the  occu])a- 
tion  of  C'uzeo,  Prince  Manco-lnca  attacked  the  troops  of  Pizarro 
tlie  S])aniar(ls,  both  men  and  horses,  were  worn  out  with  fatio-ue 
and  were  on  the  j)oint  of  l)eing  annihilated  by  the  numerous  hosts 
of  the  Inca.  Then  there  appeared  in  front  of  the  Castilians  and  in 
full  view  of  both  armies  the  Apostle  Saint  James,  mounted  on  a 
white  horse,  bearing  on  his  arm  a  shield  with  the  insignia  of  the 
military  order,  lie  was  armed  with  a  sword  which  shone  like 
lightning,  and  when  he  waved  it  the  Indians  became  terror-struck 
and  exclaimed :  "  Who  is  that  figure  bearing  in  his  hand  the 
ylJttpa,^'  the  last  word  meaning  lightning,  thunder,  or  flash  of  lio-ht. 
Wherever  the  Saint  led  the  attack,  the  infidels  fled,  and  at  leno-th 
the  arms  of  Castile  remained  victorious  in  the  fray. 

The  same  apostle  appeared  to  the  Spaniards  blockaded  within 
the  walls  of  Cuzco,  when  their  position  was  endangered  by  the 
incendiary  balls  which  the  Indians  were  throwing  on  the  edifices 
of  the  sacred  city.  During  the  conquest  of  Cundinamarca,  Fran- 
cisco Cesar's  command  was  attacked  on  all  sides  by  an  army  of 
Indians  in  the  valleys  of  Popayan  and  Cali.  The  enemy  was  press- 
ing hard  the  little  group  of  Spartans,  when  their  chief  called  for 
help  on  the  apostle,  who  immediately  ajopeared  on  his  white  horse 
and  spread  disorder  and  death  in  the  ranks  of  the  enemy. 

There  is  an  explanation  for  these  superstitious  traditions  and 
for  the  war-cry  of  Santiago  which  electrified  the  Spanish  armies. 
History  relates  that  once,  Avlien  King  Don  Kamiro  I.,  in  843,  was 
battling  against  the  Moorish  King  Abderraman,  in  the  field  of 
Albelda,  the  army  of  the  Castilian  monarch  was  nearly  destroyed 
when  night  put  an  end  to  the  conflict.  Don  Ramiro  had  souirht 
shelter  at  the  foot  of  the  neighboring  hill  of  Clavijo,  when  the 
Apostle  Saint  James,  who  was  watching  while  all  slept,  ordered  him 
to  resume  the  conflict  on  the  morrow,  and  i^romised  him  the  vic- 
tory. A  simple  narrative  of  the  apparition  was  the  only  exhorta- 
tion the  King  required  to  encourage  his  men.  They  all  redoubled 
their  efforts,  and  being  already  secure  of  heaven,  considered  them- 
selves certain  of  earthly  success.  In  place  of  the  drums  sounds  the 
clarion-blast  of  the  invincible  name  of  Santiago;  the  apostle  invoked 


122  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

places  himself  at  the  head  of  the  army;  the  Spaniards  behold  him 
mounted  on  a  white  horse,  bearing  a  sword  in  one  hand,  with  the 
other  carrying  a  standard,  showing  a  red  cross  on  a  white  field,  and 
charging  the  barbarians  at  full  s^^eed.  Re2")eating  the  battle-cry 
of  Santiago  and  r^  ellos  (at  them),  with  the  ^''' son  of  lightning" 
leading  them  against  the  Crescent,  they  charge  with  irresistible 
might,  massacre  seventy  thousand  Moors,  and  take  Albelda,  Clavijo, 
and  Calahorra.  Records  of  the  victory  remain  on  the  field  up  to 
this  day.  From  that  time  forward  the  Cortes  of  the  kingdom 
decided  that  a  portion  of  the  military  spoils  should  be  reserved  for 
the  Saint,  holding  him  as  2:)resent  on  the  battlefield  not  only  as  a 
Saint,  but  also  as  a  combatant." 

But  what  ex2)lanation  can  we  give  for  the  origin  of  this  super- 
stitious belief  amongst  the  Indians  ?  To  render  possible  the  hal- 
lucination which  produced  such  terror  among  them,  it  is  necessary 
they  should  have  seen  j^reviously  tlio  effigy  of  the  Apostle;  other- 
wise we  could  not  account  for  such  a  phenomenon.  The  delineation 
we  discovered  on  the  standard  of  Pizarro  solves  the  enigma,  and 
shows  that  the  fancied  apparition  of  a  warrior  mounted  on  a  white 
horse  originated  in  the  banner  borne  by  the  troops  of  Pizarro.  It 
is  higlily  probable  that  on  the  standards  and  flags  of  Cortes  and 
others  of  the  many  invaders  of  America,  there  was  also  a  represen- 
tation of  the  Apostle*  This  figure,  visible  to  the  Indians  in  the 
midst  of  the  fight,  probably  contributed  with  the  prowess  of  the 
Castilians  to  produce  the  illusion  amongst  the  crowded  hosts  of 
natives.  The  Inca  Garcilaso,  a  witness  of  all  these  events,  bears 
out  our  explanation.  This  chronicler  relates  that,  being  present  as 
a  child  at  a  religious  festival  in  Cuzco,  he  saw  on  one  of  the  walls 
of  the  church  a  picture  of  the  Apostle  Saint  James.  He  was 
mounted  on  a  white  horse,  bearing  a  flaming  sword  in  his  right 
hand,  and  a  multitude  of  corpses  were  lying  on  the  grouiul  beneath 
him.  On  seeing  him  the  Indians  exclaimed,  *' It  was  a  figure  like 
tliis  which  overcame  us  in  this  2)laee,"  and  tlicy  were  doubtless 
alluding  to  the  effigy  represented  on  the  standard  of  Pizarro. 

All  this  goes  to  show  that  the  standard  actually  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  City  of  Caracas  is  the  one  which  Pizarro  bore  at  the 
occui)ation  of  Cuzco,  and  that  the  effigy  of  the  Apostle  which 
appears  on  one  of  its  faces,  is  the  same  which  struck  terroi-  and 


WOinJ>\s    COLIMIUAN    KXl'OSITIOX.  123 

death  amongst  tlic  Peruvian  Indians  in  1533.  As  it  has  remained 
down  to  our  own  times,  wo  may  conchide  it  was  not  used  in  tlie 
civil  wars  wliich  followed  the  capture  of  Cuzco,  and  in  which  both 
sides  when  victorious  took  possession  of  the  standards  and  flags  of 
their  opponents. 

Tluis  it  "was  to  he.  It  was  written  that  the  glorious  standard 
of  the  first  conqueror  of  America  was  to  fall  as  a  historical  trojdiy 
into  the  hands  of  the  first  of  American  liberators,  and  that  from 
the  sacred  city  of  the  Incas,  where  it  had  been  preserved  during 
three  centuries,  it  was  to  be  transported  to  the  birthi)lace  of 
Bolivar.  The  City  of  Caracas  will  know  how  to  jn-cserve  it  with 
the  just  pride  inspired  by  deeds  of  prowess  and  bloodstained  sacri- 
fices. Besides,  it  must  not  be  forgotten  that  the  former  name  of 
the  capital  of  Venezuela  was  Santiago  de  Leon  de  Caracas. 

AVhen  the  standard  of  Pizarro  arrived  at  Caracas  in  182G,  the 
political  hatreds  against  Spain  had  not  yet  had  time  to  cool  down  ; 
thus  it  happened  that  in  the  first  civic  festival  celebrated  in  the 
capital  after  the  reception  of  this  valuable  guerdon,  it  was  dragged 
through  the  streets  of  the  city,  in  order  to  display  the  hatred  then 
existing  against  the  former  masters  of  the  country. 

Eighteen  years  later,  in  1842,  when  the  mortal  remains  of 
Bolivar  arrived  on  their  native  soil,  the  standard  of  PizaiTo  was 
placed  with  respect  at  the  base  of  the  mausoleum  where  rest  the 
aslies  of  the  x\merican  hero. 

After  a  new  jieriod  of  thirty  years,  this  historic  record  of  the 
Castilian  conquest  was  borne  during  the  festival  of  October  the 
28th,  in  the  center  of  a  group  representing  both  official  and 
unofficial  Spain  and  surronnded  by  the  descendants  of  the  libera- 
tors.    Iji  this  grou])  were  nnited  the  flags  of  Spain  and  Venezuela. 

AVhat  a  contrast  I  In  the  first  of  these  epochs  everything  was 
subordinated  to  im])ulsive  passion  ;  the  second  commemoration 
was  a  homage  offered  by  the  descendants  to  the  glory  of  their 
progenitors  ;  the  last  was  a  family  reconciliation,  a  historical 
record  of  all  the  epochs,  synthetizing  one  same  glorious  origin, 
drowning  all  resentments  and  uniting  all  glories  in  a  fraternal 
embrace.  ' 

The  standard  of  Pizarro  is  not  a  war  trophy  ;  it  is  a  family 
record,  a  proud  guerdon  of  our  race,  a  relic  of  an  immortal  ejioch;  it 


124  THE   UIs^ITED   STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

is  a  symbol  of  union  between  two  great  nations  issued  from  the 
same  stock,  and  whose  glories  are  common  to  botli. 

After  having  gone  tlirough  these  particulars  concerning  the 
standard  of  Pizarro — this  relic  of  the  Castilian  conquest — presented 
to  Bolivar  by  the  victor  of  Ayacucho,  and  by  Bolivar  to  his  native 
city,  where  it  is  at  present,  it  now  remains  for  us  to  examine  a  point 
of  historical  criticism  connected  with  the  sul)ject.  SoutJi  American 
chronicles  and  traditions  mention  several  flags  or  banners  which 
received  seventy  years  ago  the  name  of  Standard  of  Pizarro. 
There  is  the  one  presented  to  General  San  Martin  by  the  Municipal 
Council  of  Lima,  then  the  one  given  to  the  Liberator  by  General 
Sucre,  and  lastly,  those  which  are  at  present  in  the  museum  of 
Bogota,  and  which  the  Colombian  Government  received  from  the 
victor  of  Ayacucho.  Which  of  these  banners  is  the  real  standard 
of  Pizarro  ?  Were  there  several  or  is  there  only  one  ?  If  the 
second  alternative  is  correct,  where  is  it  to  be  found  ?  These  are 
the  questions  we  are  going  to  investigate.  Eighteen  years  have 
elapsed  since  we  published  our  2-)am2ihlet  entitled,  llic  Standard  of 
Pizarro,  and  the  documents  we  have  been  enabled  to  consult  since 
then  will  be  of  considerable  assistance  to  us. 

For  centuries  it  never  occurred  to  any  one  to  remove  the  stand- 
ard of  Pizarro,  deposited  in  1533  on  an  altar  of  the  cathedral  of 
Cuzco,  after  the  occupation  of  the  city  by  tlie  conqueror  of  Peru. 
There  it  rested,  untouched  by  the  conquistadores,  who  did  not  ven- 
ture k)  bring  it  fortli  in  their  internecine  wars,  until  General  San 
Martin,  liljerator  of  the  South,  arrived  in  1821  in  the  capital  of 
Peru.  Spaniards  and  natives,  monuments,  wealth,  standards  and 
flags,  representative  of  past  grandeur,  all  were  affected  by  the  new 
heralds  of  liberation,  who,  from  the  north  and  south,  were  con- 
verging on  the  land  of  the  sun  for  the  jnirpose  of  establisliing  a 
new  domination  and  overthrowing  the  power  of  Spain. 

The  standard  of  Pizarro  is  mentioned  for  the  first  time  in  the 
farewell  proclamation  of  San  Martin  to  the  Peruvians  in  18'J2. 
The  following  passage  appears  in  it  :  "I was  present  at  the  Declar- 
ation of  Independence  of  the  States  of  Chili  and  Peru.  I  have  in 
my  possession  the  standard  which  Pizarro  bore  to  enstave  the 
emfirc  of  the  Incas.     I  liave  ceased  to  be  a  public  man  but  by  this 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  125 

aloiio  I  am  rewai'ded   witli  usury  for  ten  years  of  revolution  and 
war." 

A  historian,  unfriendly  to  San  Martin,  thus  relates  how  this 
valuable  guordon  came  into  his  possession  :  **  Althougli  not  a 
robbery  of  money,  still  it  was  a  robbery  San  Martin  committed  in 
obtaining  from  tlie  Municipality  the  standard  of  the  conquest.  It 
had  been  kept  in  the  city  because  the  importance  of  this  record 
rendered  it  worthy  of  preservation.  He  asked  for  it  under  the  ])re- 
text  of  examining  it,  and  as  soon  as  it  was  in  his  power,  he  appro- 
priated it  as  if  it  were  a  trophy  ca2itured  from  the  enemy.  lie 
then  required  of  the  Municipality  to  present  it  to  him  as  a 
gift.     .     .     ."* 

Leaving  on  one  side  the  ojoprobrious  words  of  the  historian, 
the  gift  solicited  by  San  Martin  was  as  legitimately  obtained  as  if 
the  Municipality  had  oifered  it  to  him  spontaneously.  Besides,  the 
fame  of  San  Martin  and  the  services  he  rendered  to  the  Peruvian 
fatherland,  place  him  above  all  these  petty  accusations,  which  orig- 
inate in  political  hatreds.  We  may  leave  the  general  in  possession 
of  a  gift  he  held  until  his  death,  when  he  bequeathed  it  to  the 
Peruvian  Republic. 

Shortly  after  the  departure  of  San  Martin  for  Eurojie,  the 
cannon  of  Ayacucho  shattered  the  remnants  of  S2)anish  power  and 
tlie  flag  of  Colombia  waved  on  the  turrets  of  the  ancient  cities  of 
the  Incas.  Modern  America  was  taking  the  place  of  the  past.  As 
to  the  standard  of  Pizarro  found  in  Cuzco  and  })resented  by  Sucre 
to  Bolivar,  all  we  have  to  say  about  it  is  consigned  in  the  preceding 
pages. 

There  were,  therefore,  at  that  time  two  banners,  each  desig- 
nated as  the  standard  of  Pizarro  :  the  one  given  in  1821  to  Gen- 
eral San  Martin  l)y  the  Municipality  of  Lima  and  that  presented  to 
General  Sucre  by  the  ^Municipality  of  Cuzco  in  1824.  Again,  when 
the  gifts  sent  by  the  victor  of  Ayacucho  to  the  Liberator  and  the 
Colombian  Government  arrived  at  Bogot'i  towards  the  end  of  1825, 
the  collection  of  flags  and  banners  had  received  the  general  denom- 


'  Pnivoiu'iia. — "  Mcinorijis  y  Docuinciitos  para  la  Ilistoria  dc  la  Inde- 
penrk-ncia  del  Pcni,  etc.";  Paris,  1858,  2  vols.  Tliis  work  is  attributed  to 
Riva  Asrnero. 


126  THE    UXITED    STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

illation  of  Flags  of  rizarro.  The  following  sonnet  of  the  well- 
known  and  distingnished  Jose  Fernandez  Madrid,  celebrating  these 
valuable  historical  guerdons,  further  tends  to  sujiport  this  assertion: 

"  These  are  the  banners  which  one  day  waved  in  the  hands  of 
Pizarro  :  These  are  the  banners  which  once  witnessed  in  Caja- 
marca  the  most  abominable  treason. 

"  Records  of  oppression  and  tyranny,  for  three  centuries  they 
insulted  Peru,  and  the  liberators  found  them  dyed  with  innocent 
blood. 

"  Souvenirs  of  an  insolent  despot,  bloodstained  banners  of 
Pizarro,  which  victory  gave  into  the  hands  of  Bolivar, 

Now  for  ever  overthrown  and  humiliated  at  the  feet  of  inde- 
pendent Colombia,  once  the  opprobrium  of  Peru,  you  will  now  be 
its  glory."  ' 

Thus  the  poet  speaks  of  the  collection  of  flags,  banners,  and 
pennons  which  the  Government  of  Colombia  exhibited  simulta- 
neously with  the  standard  of  Pizarro,  before  the  latter  was  forwarded 
to  Caracas,  in  February,  182G. 

We  now  come  to  what  liapi)eiied  in  tlie  year  1844,  when  Gen- 
eral San  Martin  died  in  France.  In  a  codicil  of  his  testament, 
made  at  Paris,  on  January  2;'>,  1S44,  the  following  clause  appears: 
*^  It  is  mv  will  tliat  the  standard  which  the  Spanish  bandit  Pizarro 


•  Esta.s  .son  lus  bamlcras  ({ue  algiiii  dia 
En  iiianos  do  Pi/.arro  treinolaroii, 
Esta.s  en  Cajaiiiarca  prcseiiciaron 
La  mas  al)oiniiia]il('  alcvosia. 

RcciK'idos  (1(!  opresioii  y  tiiania 
Al  I'cni  ires  cciilurias  iiisullaron, 
Y  los  lilx'itadorrs  las  liallaron 
Tiutas  en  pura  sangir  lodavia. 

Mominicnlos  de  un  dcspota  iusolentc, 
Baiidcras  dc  Pizarro  cn.sanurcnladas, 
Quo  rindi()  ante  Bolivaila  victoria, 

A  los  ]>ies  dc  Colombia  indcpcndicnte, 
Para  sicmpre  al)atidas  y  liumilladas 
Oprobrio  del  Pcni,  serc'is  su  gloria  ! 

Yant's — Collect' ivn  dc  Bocumcntos — 1826. 


world's   COLUMUIAN    EXPOSITIOX.  127 

waved  in  the  conquest  of  Peru,  be  returned  to  the  said  Republic." 
Shortly  afterwards,  ]h\  (Jalves,  representative  of  the  Peruvian 
Kepuldic  in  France,  surrendered  the  guerdon  to  the  OovernnieTit 
of  General  Pezet,  at  Lima.'  Tliis  legacy  sliows  that  San  ]\rartin 
died  in  the  belief  that  the  standard  he  had  possessed  was  really  that 
of  the  conquistador  Pizarro. 

We  have  already  descril^ed  the  standard  of  Pizarro  which  is  in 
the  hands  of  the  ^runici})ality  of  Caracas,  and  our  description 
agrees  with  that  of  the  historian  Palma,  in  the  fourth  series  of  his 
Tradiciones.  Now,  it  is  quite  certain,  that  amongst  the  different 
objects  forwarded  to  the  Government  of  Bogota  by  General  Sucre, 
some  of  the  banners  in  the  possession  of  various  Peruvian  munici- 
l^alities  in  the  days  of  Fernando  VI.,  were  war-flags  of  recognized 
historical  value.  An  article  published  in  the  Gaceta  de  Coloinhia, 
of  September  4, 18:35, speaks  of  them  as  follows:  "The  Government 
has  seen  with  satisfaction  in  its  llall  of  Despatches,  the  standard  of 
Castile  and  the  royal  banners  of  the  province  of  the  upper  Apure. 
They  will  remind  us  in  the  future  of  the  calamitous  ej^och  of  the 
subjugation  of  South  America,  and  they  will  simultaneously  be  for 
whoever  sees  them  a  record  of  the  glory  of  the  Emancipation  and 
of  the  heroic  prowess  of  the  sons  of  Colombia  in  the  land  of  the 
Incas.  These  trophies  are  accompanied  by  others  no  less  worthy 
of  the  Army  which  forwarded  them,  /.  c,  the  flag  of  the  colonel  of 
the  regiment  of  Burgos,  bearing  the  arms  of  that  province  and 
those  of  Cuzco,  which  are  a  Sun  with  the  inscription :  Civil  as  solis 
vocahitur  una.  The  flag  of  the  battalion  of  Huamanga,  magnifi- 
cently embroidered  in  gold  and  silver.  Another  belonging  to  the 
Cruz  de  Borgofia,  with  these  inscriptions  in  the  corners:  The  battle 
of  Ajiohuma  recovered  the  iwovinres  of  Potoxi  and  Cliarcas  on  the 
\4th  of  November,  1813  .•  //  washed  out  the  affront  oj  Tucuman,  and 
appears  on  the  plains  of  Vicapupio :  first  of  October,  1813.  -J'he  Hags 
of  battalions  Nos.  1  and  2,  of  the  regiment  of  Chasseurs  of  Extrema- 
dura,  as  richly  adorned  as  that  of  the  battalion  of  Huamanga:  and 
the  royal  seals,  large  and  small,  of  the  Royal  Audience  and  Chan- 
cellerv  of  Cuzco."  * 


'  Herrera. — "El  Album  de  Ayaciicho." 

-  Groot. — "Ilistoria  eclesiastica  y  civil  de  Nueva  Granada."     Vol.  III. 


128  THE   UNITED   STATES  OF   VENEZUELA. 

As  can  be  seen,  none  of  these  banners  or  pennons  is  in  any 
way  similar  to  the  standard  in  the  possession  of  the  city  of  0;n'.'!cas. 
All  that  now  remains  is  to  investigate  the  origin  of  the  standard 
which  Ijelonged  to  San  Martin,  i.  e.,  the  one  which  Avas  in  the  city 
of  Lima,  and  compare  it  with  the  one  which  was  at  Cuzco,  and  which 
is  now  the  property  of  the  city  of  Caracas.  Tliis  investigation  will 
show  the  date  of  each  and  what  coat-of-arms  appears  on  them 
respectively. 

We  shall  now  go  into  the  question. 

A  little  more  than  two  years  ago  (in  April,  1891),  the  remains 
of  Francnsco  Pizarro,  the  conqueror  of  Peru,  were  exhumed  from 
the  vaults  of  the  Cathedral  of  Lima,  and  deposited  in  one  of  the 
chapels  of  that  church.  This  change  was  made  in  accordance  with 
the  orders  of  the  Government.  In  the  Bolctin  Municipal,  No.  001, 
bearing  the  date  of  July  2,  of  the  same  year,  are  inserted  some 
ancient  documents  referring  to  the  foundation  and  settk'- 
ment  of  Lima,  on  the  loth  of  January,  1535,  and  also  to 
the  escutcheon  granted  to  the  city  by  Charles  V.,  etc..  on 
the  7th  of  December,  1537.  We  have  been  able  to  inspect 
these  documents  through  the  courtesy  of  our  old  friend  Don 
Ricardo  Palma.  The  decree  of  concession  of  the  seal  is  as 
follows : 

"  It  is  our  will  and  pleasure  that  now  and  for  ever  in  perpetuity, 
the  said  City  of  the  Kings  have  and  hold  for  its  known  arms  an 
escutcheon  on  a  blue  field  with  three  royal  crowns  of  gold,  forming 
a  triangle,  and  above  them  a  star  of  gold,  each  one  of  the  three 
points  of  said  star  touctliing  one  of  the  crowns,  and  on  the  fringe 
in  letters  of  gold  the  inscription  Hoc  siynum  vcrc  regum  est  ;  on  a 
red  field  and  as  a  stamp  and  device,  two  black  eagles  respoctant, 
each  with  a  royal  crown  of  gold,  and  holding  an  I  and  a  K,  which 
are  the  -first  letters  of  our  proper  name,  and  above  said  letters  a 
star  of  gold,  all  as  herein  figured  and  delineated:  We  give  said  arms 
to  the  said  City  of  the  Kings  for  its  own,  and  to  be  known  and 
designated  as  its  own  at  present  and  for  ever  in  the  future  as  has 
been  said.  We  give  to  said  city  license  and  faculty  to  bear  them 
and  i)lacc  them  on  its  pennons,  seal,  and  coat-of-arms,  buildings, 
and  other  parts  ;md  ))laces  at  will,  and  as  may  be  found  suitable, 
and  in  the  way,  form,  and  manner  they  are  borne  and  placed  in  the 


WOltLD's   C'OLUMiJIAN     KXI'OSITIOX.  129 

cities  of  our  kingdoms  of  C'listile,  to  which  \vu  liiive  given  arms  and 
device,  etc' 

Tliis  is  tlie  coat-of-arins  which  fiiinres  in  the  standard  pre- 
sented to  General  San  Martin  hy  tiie  City  of  Ijima.  This  standard 
IS  the  one  whicli,  after  \^)?u,  the  (hite  of  tlie  foundation  of  I^inia,  was 
home  in  tlie  solemn  festivals,  civil  and  religions,  of  the  City  of  the 
Kings.  Don  Kieardo  Pahua,  who  examined  itnndei'the  Atlministra- 
tion  of  Pezet,  gives  a  description  of  it  which  agrees  perfectly  with 
the  foregoing  extract  of  the  degree  of  concession  :  "The  people 
of  Lima,"  says  the  illustrious  academician,  "  improperly  named  this 
banner  the  standard  of  Pizarro,  and  without  due  examination 
accepted  it  as  the  war-ilag  borne  l)y  the  Spaniards  during  the  con- 
quest. The  error  was  transmitted  from  generation  to  generation 
without  being  let'uted,  and  finally  became  traditional  and  his- 
torical." • 

So  remarkable  is  the  power  of  tradition  when  supported  by 
length  of  time,  that  one  of  the  writers  in  the  above-mentioned 
Bold  in,  whilst  recommending  the  acquisition  of  certain  historical 
relics  of  the  conqueror  of  Peru,  refers  amongst  them  to  the  coveted 
standard  and  says  :  "  The  standard  of  Pizarro  was  left  to  the  Peru- 
vian Kepublic  by  General  San  Martin  in  a  clanse  of  his  will,  made 
iit  Bologna  in  the  year  1850  (sic)  ;  it  was  transmitted  to  the 
Government  of  General  Pezet  and  taken  from  the  Ministry  of 
Foreign  Affairs  in  one  of  the  many  political  riots  of  the  time. 
This  standard  is,  in  all  probability,  either  in  liima  or  m  Spain,  and 
it  would  be  easy  to  get  it  back  by  paying  a  suitable  price  for  it." 

We  have,  ourselves,  come  in  contact  with  this  struggle  between 
truth  and  erroneous  tradition  in  Canicas.  We  have  proved  cate- 
gorically that  it  was  not  the  famous  corsair,  Francis  Drake,  who 
pillaged  the  capital  of  Losada  in  1595^  that  the  French  did  not 
sack  the  same  ca[)ital  in  1G79,  and  lastly,  that  on  the  5tli  of  July, 
1811,  no  Act  of  Independence  was  ever  signed.  Yet  there  are  per- 
sons who  continue  asserting  the  truth  of  these  statements,  although 
emphatically  contradicted  by  critical  and  philosophical  examina- 
tion based  on  real  documents  and  not  on  adventurous  conjectures. 


'  Boletin  Mnnirtjyd,  minicro  001 ,  Liniji  *2.")  i](-  Julio  de  1891. 
■  l*;iinia.  —  "  'ruidicioucs  Peruanas." 


130  THE    UNITED    STATES   OF    VENEZUELA. 

The  previous  pages  show  conchisively  that  tlie  standard  willed 
by  San  Martin  to  the  Peruvian  nation  was  that  which  belonged  to  the 
City  of  the  Kings  after  its  foundation  in  1537;  that  the  flags  and 
banners  sent  by  General  Sucre  to  the  Colombian  Government,  and 
which  are  actually  in  the  Museum  of  Bogota,  belong,  some  to  the 
last  century  and  others  to  various  Spanish  regiments  which  took 
part  in  the  Peruvian  campaigns,  and,  lastly,  that  the  standard  pre- 
sented to  Bolivar  by  General  Sucre,  which  during  centuries  had 
been  preserved  with  veneration  in  the  cathedral  of  Cuzco  and  on 
whose  faces  figure  the  effigy  of  Saint  James  and  the  escutcheon  of 
Charles  V.,  is  the  real  standard  of  Pizarro.  The  municijiality  of 
Caracas  is  in  possession  of  this  record  of  Castilian  conquest  in  Peru.' 


'  111  the  plate  wliicli  accompanies  our  monograph  the  engraver  has  sought 
to  recall  two  epochs:  The  first  is  that  in  wliicli  the  primitive  ground  of  red  silk- 
damask  existed;  of  this  there  only  remain  Glaments  on  the  borders  of  the  muti- 
lated yellow  and  l)lue  arabesques.  The  second  is  that  of  the  actual  state  of  the 
medallions,  in  -which  the  fragments  of  the  effigy  of  Saint  James  and  of  the 
escutcheon  of  Charles  V.  are  visible.  The  mutilation  of  this  work  of  art 
began  a  long  time  ago:  Bolivar  himself  sent  to  Mr.  Canning  one  of  the  castles 
of  the  escutcheon  of  Charles  V.  Otlier  fragments  of  the  standard  of  Pizarro 
are  to  be  found  iu  various  European  museums. 


world's  COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  131 


THE   SWOPvD   OF   BOLIVAR. 

The  glorious  sword  whicli  Peru  presented  to  tlie  Liberator  in 
1825,  after  the  victory  of  Jiinin,  is  certjiinly  the  most  remarkable 
amono^st  the  many  historical  records  of  that  <n-eat  man,  existinsr  in 
South  America. 

This  souvenir  has  been  preserved  during  forty-two  years,  and 
it  is  to  be  exhibited  for  the  first  time  to  the  jieople  of  Caracas  in 
the  sumptuous  festival  which  the  birtliplace  of  Bolivar  is  preparing 
in  honor  of  the  American  hero.  The  family  of  the  Liberator  have 
kept  this  sword  with  great  care  and  without  allowing  it  to  become 
visible  to  the  public.  On  this  single  and  solemn  occasion  they  are 
willing  to  entrust  it  to  other  hands  for  a  few  hours.  They  will 
thus  contribute  their  share  to  this  great  patriotic  celebration  of 
October  28,  1872,  when  the  rising  sun  will  be  saluted  with  hymns 
of  rejoicing  and  enthusiasm. 

Our  colleagues  of  the  Commission  have  entrusted  us  with  the 
preparation  of  the  historical  catalogue  of  the  diilerent  objects  which 
belonged  to  the  Liberator  and  which  are  to  be  publicly  exhibited 
on  the  tomb  of  the  national  hero  and  in  the  hall  of  the  Chamber 
of  Deputies.  We  wish,  however,  to  anticipate  the  auspicious  day 
and  give  at  once  to  the  inhabitants  of  Caracas  an  idea  of  the  mag- 
nificent gift  by  which  grateful  Peru  desired  in  past  days  to  express 
its  thanks  to  the  father  of  Colombia.  This  glorious  sword  Avill  be 
borne  in  the  midst  of  those  remains  of  the  liberating  army  which 
have  survived  the  martyr  of  Santa  Marta.  Caracas,  on  witnessing 
it  in  its  streets,  will  see  in  it  a  symbol  of  glory,  of  the  gratitude  of 
populations,  and  of  the  justice  of  history  illustrating  the  memory 
of  its  beloved  sons. 

The  sword  was  made  in  Lima  in  1825  by  Chungapoina,  under 
the  direction  of  Seilor  C.  Freyre.  When,  some  years  ago,  a  brother 
of  Sefior  Freyre  was  Minister  of  Peru  in  Venezuela,  he  informed 
the  family  of  Bolivar  that  his  brother  had  spent  a  hirge  sum  on  the 
jewels  he  had  bought  for  the  purpose  of  adorning  the  hilt  of  tlie 
sword.  This  is  an  explanation  of  the  fact  that  all  the  sets  of  bril- 
liants which  appear  in  tliis  work  of  art  are  of  the  same  size  and 


132  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

of  equal  value.  The  scabbard  is  made  in  its  entirety  of  massive 
gold  of  eighteen  carats  ;  one  of  its  sides  is  embossed  with  varied 
and  graceful  designs.  On  its  upper  j^art,  on  the  borders  of  the 
opening  tlirough  Avhich  2)asses  the  blade,  figures  the  following 
inscription  G.  Freyre — Comisio^iado — Am  de  1825  ;  round  the 
lower  part  is  entwined  a  snake,  nine  inches  in  length  and  with  eyes 
made  of  rubies.  The  weight  of  the  scabbard  is  about  seventy-four 
ounces. 

The  blade  of  damascened  steel  bears  on  the  reverse  the  following 
inscription:  Swwu  Bolivar — Union  y  Libertad — Aiio  de  1825;  and 
on  the  obverse  :  Lihcrtador  de  Colonihia  y  del  Peril — Ohunyapoma 
me  fecit  en  Lima.  These  different  inscriptions  are  separated  by 
allegorical  devices,  such  as  trophies  of  arms,  laurels,  genii,  etc.,  etc. 

The  guard  of  the  sword  is  of  surpassing  artistic  merit.  A 
handsome  bust  of  massive  gold,  representing  the  genius  of  liberty, 
and  wearing  the  Phrygian  cap,  forms  the  pommel.  On  examining 
this  bust,  the  observer  will  be  struck  by  the  beauty  of  the  cap -made 
of  brilliants  gracefully  put  together  ;  specially  remarkable  is  tlie 
up[)er  bi'illiant  of  ',\h  carats,  which  is  surrounded  by  a  crown  of 
laurel  composed  of  diamonds.  The  cap  contains  one  hundred  and 
lifty-iive  stones. 

The  liilt  is  formed  by  two  pyramids  of  massive  gold,  truncated, 
and  united  at  the  base.  Each  of  the  pyramids  lias  four  sides,  and 
on  ;tl!  a})pear  various  artistic  designs.  On  one  of  the  sides  of  the 
iiplK'r  pyramid  a[)2)ears  the  escutcheon  of  Peru,  in  relief  ;  above  it 
is  a  crown  of  laurel  garnished  with  thirty  brilliants.  On  the 
reverse  side  is  designed  a  trophy  of  arms  supported  by  two  horns  of 
ul)undan(H',  in  relief,  which  pour  out  a  cascade  of  brilliants.  On 
tlu!  oilier  two  sides  two  clusters  of  palms  hang  from  each  extremity 
and  join  in  the  middle  simulating  a  rain  of  falling  stars. 

On  the  obverse  of  the  lower  pyramid  is  the  following  dedica- 
tory inscriptioji  :  El  Peru  a  sn  Lihcrtador,  on  an  unpolislied 
ground  and  with  letters  in  relief  ;  tlie  whole  surrounded  by  a 
ribbon  made  of  thirty  brilliants.  On  the  reverse  figure  a  laurel  and 
olive  in  relief,  on  an  unpolished  ground  and  surrounded  by  a  ribbon 
made  of  thirty  brilliants  ;  on  the  other  two  sides  are  festooned 
clusters  of  stones. 

The  juiKttion  of   ilu'  (wo   pyramids  at  Ihe  ])ase  is  covered  by  a 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  133 

ril)boii  of  eighteen  brillijinis  of  tlio  Hrst  order,  on  which  the  light 
phiys  in  a  way  which  excites  iidniiration  ;  at  the  extremities  there 
are  also  two  ril)bons  of  l)rilliants  as  remarkable  as  those  of  the  cen- 
tral ])arl.     The  light  effects  produced  by  tlie  whole  are  suri)risiiig. 

One  of  the  bars  of  the  cross  has  on  each  side  a  brilliant  of  the 
first  order  ;  on  the  opposite  bar  which  ends  in  a  volute,  there 
shines  on  each  side  a  constellation  of  brilliants. 

The  shell,  a  work  of  exceeding  richness,  is  constituted  by  a 
mass  of  solid  gold,  in  the  form  of  a  shield,  which  attracts  the  eye 
not  only  by  the  brilliants  it  contains  but  also  by  the  handsome 
sculpture  which  appears  in  its  center.  A  group  in  relief  of  two 
Indians  of  unburnished  gold  support  with  two  of  their  hands  a 
lance  bearing  the  cap  of  Liberty,  whilst  with  the  other  two  hands 
tliey  carry  two  banners,  also  in  relief.  The  plumes  which  adoni  the 
heads  of  the  Indians  and  the  cap  are  of  grouped  brilliants,  whi(^h 
shine  like  three  constellations  on  the  duller  background  of  gold. 
To  the  right  and  to  the  left  of  this  group  there  are  tAvo  laui-cl 
l)ranches  garnished  with  brilliants,  and  more  to  the  outside;  and 
starting  from  the  base  of  the  branches  and  from  the  lower  part  of 
the  shell,  there  emerge  two  fine  horns  of  abundance,  both  enchased 
with  brilliants  ;  at  their  extremities  are  two  fine  large  brilliants  of 
two  carats  each. 

At  the  junction  of  the  cross  with  the  shell  there  is  a  small 
ri])ljon  which  contains  thirty-four  brilliants. 

Tlie  pommel,  the  pyramids,  the  edge  of  the  dedicatory  inscrip- 
tion, the  branches,  the  laurels,  the  rings,  and  the  shell  form  a  mass 
(»f  more  than  eight  hundred  shining  brilliants,  disposed  with  con- 
summate art  in  graceful  and  symmetrical  designs. 

From  the  lower  part  of  the  pommel  there  emerges  a  dragon  of 
gold  with  two  brilliants  on  the  twisted  tail,  two  rubies  as  eyes,  aiul 
a  crown  of  sixteen  brilliants  on  his  head  ;  in  his  mouth  he  bears  a 
wreath  of  (*()rn  spikes  mounted  in  brilliants  and  connected  with 
another  attached  to  one  of  the  bars  of  the  cross.  Where  the  two 
wreathes  unite  to  form  the  arch  of  the  hilt,  there  ai)[)ears  a  medal- 
lion l)()rdered  with  brilliants  on  both  sides  and  bearing  in  its  center 
the  initials  8.  B.  superposed;  both  the  initials  are  formed  of  grouped 
brilliants. 

The  hasp  of  the  ])elt  which  acconip:inies  the  sword   consists  in 


134  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

a  clasp  of  solid  gold  in  the  form  of  a  rectangle,  four  and  a  half 
inches  long  and  three  and  a  half  inches  broad.  In  the  center  of 
the  clasp  there  is  a  large  sun  in  relief  with  thirteen  rays,  each  of 
which  ends  in  a  brilliant.  In  the  center  of  the  sun  are  the  initials 
S.  B.  formed  by  thirty-two  diamonds  and  bordered  by  a  garland  of 
seventy-three  brilliants.  The  clasp  has  further  adornments. 
Almost  touching  the  extremities  of  the  rays  of  the  sun  there  appear 
two  festoons  of  laurels  and  palms,  formed  of  brilliants,  which  start 
from  the  lower  central  portion  of  the  clasp,  and  are  joined  at  their 
further  ends  by  a  bow  of  rubies.  Lastly  the  exterior  outline  is 
enveloped  by  a  ribbon  containing  eighty-four  brilliants.  The  clasp 
alone  contains  four  hundred  and  ninety-six  brilliants. 

The  belt  consists  of  three  fringes  of  scarlet  bordered  in  gold, 
with  three  plates  and  three  buckles  of  gold. 

The  total  number  of  brilliants  inlaid  into  this  celebrated  sword 
is  thirteen  hundred  and  eighty,  and  if  we  include  the  stones  of  the 
belt  we  reach  a  total  of  07ie  thousand  four  hundred  and  thirty- 
three  brilliants. 

After  making  a  full  examination  of  this  work  of  art  Seiior  G. 
Vogler,  of  the  well-known  and  respected  jewelry  firm  of  Amme 
lirothers,  considers  it  as  one  of  the  most  remarkable  swords  exist- 
ing throughout  the  world,  on  account  of  the  richness  and  quality 
of  the  stones,  the  sculptures  and  the  whole  of  the  artistic  work. 
Its  exquisite  design  is  an  honor  to  the  je'weler  who  made  it,  to  the 
country  whicli  presented  it,  and  to  the  epoch  in  wliicli  it  was  executed. 

Tiie  sword  of  Bolivar  now  belongs  to  Sefiora  Benigna  Paliicios, 
niece  of  the  Liberator.  In  mentioning  her  name  we  take  the 
opportunity  of  expressing  to  her  our  sincere  thanks  for  the  courtesy 
with  which  she  kindly  allowed  us  to  inspect  on  a  number  of  occa- 
sions this  glorious  record  of  the  ilhistrious  head  of  her  family. 
These  marks  of  attention  are  all  the  more  gracious  on  her  2)art  that 
up  to  the  present  time  only  a  very  limited  number  of  persons  have 
been  allowed  to  view  the  rich  guerdon  which  will  one  day  be  pos- 
sessed by  Venezuela  or  Peru.' 


'  The  Government  of  Venezuela  now  owns  this  vahiable  historical  relic. 
It  is  now  going  for  the  first  time  to  be  on  view  abroad  in  that  Exhibition  in 
which  all  the  nations  of  the  civilized  world  will  celebrate  Columbus,  the  Dis- 
coverer of  America. 


world's   C0LU31B1AX    EXrOSITIOX.  135 


WASHINGTON   AT   THE   CENTENARY  OF   BOLIVAR. 

It  may  be  iiKjuired  wliy,  in  I  lie  ('(.'k'hi-atiou  of  Lhc  Centenary  uf 
Bolivar,  a  statue  of  Washington  has  heeii  erected  in  tlie  city  wlienee 
issued  the  first  sound  of  tlie  South  Amei-ican  revolution.  In  the 
days  dedicated  to  national  gratitude,  when  hundreds  of  cities  are 
i-aising  tlieir  voices  in  praise  of  the  warrior  who  emancipated 
Colombian  soil,  what  idea  does  the  patriarch  of  North  America 
symbolize  amongst  us  ? 

For  the  first  time  in  a  city  of  Castilian  origin  the  effigy  of  the 
modern  Cincinnatus  comes  to  be  a  bond  of  union  between  two 
nations  of  different  race,  customs,  and  language.  This  statue  is  a 
symbol  of  alliance,  because  Washington  is  not  a  stranger  amongst 
us:  he  is  the  father  of  the  whole  American  fatherland,  the  creator 
of  the  Republic  in  the  New  World.  Botli  Americas,  united  by 
common  glories  on  the  altar  of  gratitude,  celebrate  Washington  in 
the  city  which  was  the  birthplace  of  Bolivar. 

In  seeing  this  festival  in  which  the  two  portions  of  the  Conti- 
nent are  taking  part,  we  seem  to  witness  two  epochs  and  to  espy 
the  great  men  of  old  coming  from  the  North  and  from  the  South 
to  join  hands  and  acclaiming  Washington  whilst  celebrating 
Bolivar  at  the  foot  of  our  Andes  washed  by  the  waters  of  the 
Caribbean.  We  hear  in  imagination  the  last  cannon  shots  of  York- 
town  echoed  in  the  fields  of  Junin  and  Ayacucho.  We  see  the 
generous  conduct  of  Washington,  rendering  homage  at  the  close  of 
the  contest  to  brave  but  unfortunate  foes,  and  we  remember  that 
also  on  the  field  of  Ayacucho  victory  was  crowned  with  generosity. 
Similar  courage  and  virtues  characterize  each  of  the  two  epochs; 
])e:!])les  sejKirated  by  distance  are  united  by  the  bonds  of  their 
common  American  nationality,  of  their  love  for  those  Re2)ublican 
institutions  first  established  by  Washington  on  the  continent  of 
Cabot  and  Columbus,  first  started  in  the  South  by  Miranda  and  the 
forerunners  of  the  Revolution  of  ISIO,  and  finally  estal)lished 
there  by  Bolivar  and  San  Martin. 

The  erection  of  a  statue  of  Washington  during  the  celebration 
of  the  Centenary  of  Bolivar  is  not  only  a  tribute  to  the  glory  of  the 


136  THE    UNITED    STATES    OF    VENEZUELA. 

illustrious  creator  of  Republican  institutions:  it  is  also  a  just 
homage  to  the  great  nation  which  adorns  the  world  with  its 
name,  its  industry,  and  the  conquests  of  civil  power.  \^"hen  Wash- 
ington founded  the  Republic  in  the  New  World,  he  bequeathed  his 
virtues  as  a  citizen  and  a  magistrate  not  only  to  the  country  where 
he  was  born  and  which  was  the  theatre  of  his  triumphs:  he  left 
them  also  to  the  human  race,  which  proclaimed  him  honest  and 
just  and  the  equal  of  the  greatest.  For  this  have  his  fellow 
citizens  summarized  his  worth  in  this  eloquent  sentence :  ^'  First  in 
the  hearts  of  his  countrymen." 

There  are  coincidences  which  bring  nations  nearer  to  each 
other  in  history.  Bolivar  comes  into  the  world  in  1783,  the  year 
in  which  the  work  accomplished  by  AVashington  is  recognized  by 
the  great  European  Powers.  He  is  born  at  the  time  when  Spain, 
which  had  contributed  on  the  battlefield  to  the  triumph  of  the 
Republic,  recognized  it  officially.  She  thus  unwittingly  pointed 
out  the  way  to  her  colonists  of  the  New  World,  who  some  years 
later,  in  their  turn,  founded  American  nationalities.  Thus,  one 
hundred  years  after  the  first  triumph  had  received  the  seal  of  inter- 
national treaties,  Ave  are  celebrating  Washington  in  the  birthplace 
of  Bolivar. 

It  was  on  the  very  fields  where  Washington  won  his  laurels 
tliat  Miranda,  the  friend  of  Hamilton,  Fox,  and  Lafayette  began 
the  work  of  South  American  emancipation.  It  was  the  same 
banner,  planted  by  Miranda  in  180G  on  the  Corian  coast,  where,  for 
the  first  time,  the  name  of  Colombia  Avas  heard— it  was  that  same 
l)anner  whi('h  Bolivar  bore  on  the  fields  of  Boyaca  and  Carabobo, 
and  with  wliich  he  finally  reached  the  heights  of  Cuzco  and  Potosi. 

There  is  heru  a  righteous  historical  compensation.  Many  cities 
of  North  Anurica  have  celebrated  the  name  of  Bolivar.  To  express 
her  gratitude,  Venezuela  has  awaited  the  day  of  the  centenary 
festival  of  the  Liberator  to  erect  in  the  city  which  was  the  birth- 
place of  Bolivar  the  statue  of  AVashington,  so  that  it  might  be 
lianded  down  from  generation  to  generation,  and  that  we  might 
become  familiar  with  the  name  of  the  patriarch  and  founder  of  the 
Republic  in  the  New  World. 

(Jratitude  is  thus  added  to  the  sentiments  of  international 
con  f  I'M  tern  ity. 


AVORLD's  C0Lr:srnTAX  kxposition.  137 

When  the  Venezuelan  revolution  begun  in  ISIO,  it  was  rrum 
tlie  United  States  of  America  we  received  the  first  war  material. 
If  the  successors  of  Washini^ton  were  unable  at  tliat  time  to  recoir- 
nize  our  indepeiulence,  their  sympathy  accompanied  us  and  enthu- 
siastic citizens  helped  us  as  years  Ijcfore  they  had  assisted 
Miranda.  Two  years  later  a  great  catrastroplie,  the  earthquake  of 
181*3,  overthrew  the  larger  number  of  the  cities  of  Venezuela,  and 
to  tlie  misfortunes  of  Avar  were  added  misery,  hunger,  and  death. 
When  the  news  of  tliis  disaster  arrived  in  the  country  of  Washing- 
ton, the  Congress  of  the  Iiepublic  unanimously  decreed  that  fiv(! 
ships  loaded  with  flour  should  be  sent  to  Venezuela,  so  that  it 
might  be  distributed  amongst  the  most  needy  of  the  sufferers.  A 
celebrated  traveller,  Humboldt,  on  relating  this  deed,  characterizes 
it  with  the  following  eloquent  words  :  "Such  generous  help  was 
received  with  the  liveliest  gratitude  ;  and  this  solemn  act  of  a 
free  people,  this  sign  of  national  interest,  of  which  the  civilization 
of  our  old  Europe  shows  few  recent  exami)les,  seemed  a  precious 
pledge  of  the  mutual  good  feeling  which  is  always  to  unite  the 
populations  of  the  two  Americas." 

After  many  days  of  trials  and  sacrifices  the  Revolution  fails 
twice,  but  ultimately  conquers;  from  victory  to  victory  Bolivar  bears 
the  banner  of  Colombia  to  the  snowy  peaks,  to  the  liighest  inhab- 
ited regions  of  the  Andes.  An  unexpected  and  fortunate  incident 
then  created  a  fresh  bond  of  union  between  the  two  Americas  and 
their  inhabitants.  One  of  the  founders  of  the  great  Republic  was 
then  on  the  soil  of  the  United  States.  In  1824  a  unanimous  vote 
of  Congress  had  autliorized  President  Monroe  to  invite  in  tlie  name 
of  the  nation  General  Lafayette  to  visit  the  country.  Lafayette, 
then  in  France,  did  not  hesitate  to  acce})t  this  honorable  and  spon- 
taneous invitation.  The  Government  of  the  United  States  offered 
him  a  man-of-war  to  convey  him  across  the  Atlantic,  but  he  pre- 
ferred a  merchant  vessel  in  which  he  would  And  greater  comfort, 
and  left  in  the  middle  of  July  of  the  same  year.  On  the  15th  of 
August  after  lengthy  years  of  absence  Lafayette  landed  in  New 
York  on  the  soil  of  his  former  glory.  Is  there  a  pen  which  can 
describe  the  ovation  which  received  hini  ?  The  hearts  of  millions 
of  men  were  beating  in  unison ;  thousands  of  cities  were  echoing 
one  sentiment.     The  object  of  their  enthusiasm  was  one  man,  and 


138  THE    UNITED    STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

tlie  glory  he  represented,  great  and  imperishable.  There  was  a 
delirium  of  universal  gratitude;  two  generations  united  in  presence 
of  one  of  the  athletes  of  liberty  and  the  effigy  of  Washington.  Few 
celebrations  in  the  history  of  the  human  race  can  equal  this  ovation  ; 
none  can  excel  it.  Lafayette  was  to  visit  all  the  States  of  the  Union, 
and  in  all  he  was  to  be  received  with  enthusiasm.  From  tlie 
moment  he  touched  American  soil  until  that  of  his  departure  his 
journey  was  to  Ije  one  long  triumphal  procession. 

In  Deceml)er,  1824,  Congress  presented  to  its  illustrious  guest 
$200,000  in  gold  and  2,000  acres  of  land,  as  a  small  offering  from 
the  country  of  Washington  in  remembrance  of  his  services.  In 
every  one  of  the  twenty-four  States  Lafayette  was  the  hero  of  pop- 
ularity; everywhere  festivities,  popular  ovations,  and  the  thousand 
voices  of  the  Press  made  his  name  famous  throughout  the  world. 

Was  the  name  of  Bolivar  pronounced  during  these  festivities  ? 
Was  there  anything  which  showed  that  the  deeds  just  consummated 
in  South  America  were  known  and  appreciated  ?  The  history  of 
the  first  years  of  Colombia,  the  sanguinary  character  of  the  struggle, 
the  sensation  which  the  emancipation  of  a  great  continent  was  to 
cause  in  the  civilized  world,  all  this  had  reached  the  people  of  the 
United  States.  The  Americans  of  the  North  had  followed  from 
afar  all  the  vicissitudes  of  the  drama,  and  during  the  triumphal 
tour  of  Lafayette,  1824-1825,  they  heard  of  its  last  and 
glorious  act — the  victory  of  Junin,  the  decisive  battle  of  Ayacucho, 
and  the  surrender  of  Callao.  At  that  date  the  name  of  Holivar  was 
already  celebrated  in  history,  and  the  people  of  North  America  gave 
liim  without  hesitation  the  honorable  title  of  "  The  Washington  of 
South  America." 

More  significant  events  were  to  follow.  At  the  splendid  ban- 
quet offered  by  Congress  to  General  Lafayette  in  Washingt()i\ 
Henry  (May,  the  eminent  citizen  whose  death  in  1852  was  to  cause 
l)ublic  mourning  throughout  the  I'^nited  States,  s})oke  of  Bolivar  in 
presence  of  his  colleagues,  and  we  may  consider  his  utterances  as 
bearing  an  official  stamp.  \n  the  midst  of  the  enthusiasm  of  that 
magnificent  reception,  of  which  Lafayette  was  the  sole  hero,  Henry 
Clay  rose  to  iiis  feet  and  s})oke  as  follows:  ^'Whilst  we  are  peace- 
fully enjoying  in  the  midst  of  abundance  and  security,  the  benefits 
of  the  free  institutions  founded  by  the  bravery  and  patriotism  of 


WORLD  S   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION.  139 

our  forefatliors  and  of  their  valiant  companions  lierc  present,  whilst 
calling  to  mind  with  freedom  and  satisfaction  tlie  memory  of  our 
lievolution,  can  we  forget  that  our  neighl)ors  and  friends  on  this 
same  continent  are  now  struggling  to  ohtain  that  same  freedom  and 
independence  which  amongst  ourselves  has  been  so  fortunately 
secured  ?  No  nation,  no  generous  and  disinterested  Lafayette,  has 
come  to  their  assistance;  alone  and  without  help  they  have  sus- 
tained their  glorious  cause,  trusting  to  its  Justice,  and  with  the 
assistance  only  of  their  bravery,  their  deserts,  and  their  Andes. 
.  .  ."  Clay  followed  by  speaking  in  rather  strong  terms  of  > 
Spain  and  its  King  at  that  time,  and  in  conclusion  proposed  the  fol- 
lowing toast:  "  To  General  BoJivar,  the  Wash i)igton  of  South  A)ncr- 
ica  and  to  tlie  RepuhUc  of  Colombia!^  And  more  than  six  hundred 
representatives  of  the  Anglo-American  race,  rose  to  their  feet  in 
that  night  of  festivity  and,  lifting  their  glasses,  exclaimed  like  one 
man  in  the  presence  of  Lafayette:  "  To  Bolivar,  the  Washington  of 
South  America  and  to  the  Republic  of  Colombia.''  It  was  with  these 
cordial  and  eloquent  words  that  the  great  Republic  sent  its  greeting 
to  the  young  nationalities  of  South  America  which  Bolivar  had  just 
created. 

Before  taking  his  departure  for  Europe,  Lafayette  visited  the 
tomb  of  Washington  at  Mount  Vernon.  lie  wished  to  see  with  his 
own  eyes  the  place  where  the  American  Cincinnatus  spent  the  last 
years  of  his  life,  and  where  his  mortal  remains  are  now  resting,  hi 
presence  of  the  glorious  ashes  of  Washington,  Lafayette  received 
from  the  great  man's  family,  amongst  other  presents,  the  ribbon  of 
the  order  of  Cincinnato  which  the  Liberator  of  North  America 
had  used.  lie  further  agreed  with  heartfelt  pride  to  serve  as  an 
intermediary  for  presenting  to  Bolivar  the  gift  which  Washington's 
family  also  wished  to  make  to  the  Liberator  of  South  America. 
This  gift  consisted  in  a  medal  of  gold  which  on  one  of  the  anniver- 
saries of  Independence  the  American  people  had  presented  to  the 
Father  of  their  country  and  in  a  medallion  containing  a  portrait  of 
Washington  and  a  lock  of  his  hair.  Tliis  medallion  now  belongs  to 
the  Republic  through  a  donation  of  General  Guzman  I^lanco.  Pres- 
ident of  Venezuela,  who  had  received  it  from  the  nephew  of  l^ulivar, 
Sefior  Pablo  S.  Clemente.  The  medallion  is  of  oval  form,  with  a 
maximum  diameter  of  seven  centimeters  by  a  minimum  diameter  of 


140  THE  UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

five  centimeters.  On  the  obverse  side  appears  a  miniature  portrait 
of  Washington,  artistically  executed  by  Steward  according  to  the 
large  picture  painted  by  the  celebrated  Field.  On  the  reverse  is 
blue  enamel  in  the  center  of  which  appears  under  a  small  oval  cover 
of  crystal  the  hair  of  the  modern  Cincinnatus.  Around  the  enamel 
the  following  inscription  is  engraved  on  a  gold  plate : 

Auctoris  Libertatis  Americanae  in  Septentrione  hanc 

Imaginem  dat  films  ejus 

{Pater  patriae) 

Adoptatus  iUi  qui  gloriam  similem  in  Austro  adeptus  est. 

"  This  portrait  of  the  founder  of  liberty  in  North  America  is 
presented  by  his  adoj^tive  son  to  him  who  acquired  equal  glory  in 
South  America." 

Thus  it  was  that  the  family  of  Washington  in  the  name  of 
North  America  and  evoking  the  names  and  the  glory  of  its  illus- 
trious chief,  the  Father  of  his  country,  manifested  its  admiration 
for  the  Washington  of  South  America.  But  that  which  gives  a 
special  character  to  this  American  gift  is  that  it  was  that  Lafayette, 
so  celebrated  in  the  annals  of  modern  liberty,  who  was  entrusted 
with  the  pleasing  duty  of  transmitting  to  Bolivar  the  precious 
guerdon.  The  Liberator  received  from  Lafayette  the  following 
letter  through  the  intermediary  of  the  Colombian  legation  in  Wash- 
ington : 

GENERAL  LAFAYETTE  TO   GENERAL  BOLIVAR,  PRESIDENT-LIBERATOR. 

Washington  City,  September  1,  1825. 

To  the  President-Liberator  : 

Sir— The  family  of  General  Washington  could  not  have  shown 
in  a  better  way  their  appreciation  of  my  filial  and  religious  afl'ec- 
tiou  for  his  memory.  To-day  a  most  honorable  duty  has  been 
entrusted  to  me.  It  was  with  tlio  utmost  pleasure  1  recognized  the 
exact  resemblance  of  the  portrait,  for  I  would  rather  offer  this 
record  of  my  fatherly  friend  to  General  Bolivar  than  to  any  nan 
living  or  to  any  of  tlioso  who  are  fametl  in  history.  What  more 
can  I  say  to  the  great  citizen  whom  America  has  saluted  with  the 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  141 

title  of  Lil)or;it()r,  ;i  name  confirmed  bv  the  Old  and  the  New  AVorld, 
and  wIk),  whilst  endowed  with  a  power  ef[ual  to  his  disinterested- 
ness, yet  bears  in  his  lieart  tlie  unreserved  love  of  liljerty  and  a  sin- 
cere affection  for  the  Kei)ul)li(*.  However,  the  public  testimonials 
of  your  kindness  and  esteem  authorize  me  to  present  you  witli  tiie 
personal  congratuhitions  of  a  veteran  of  our  common  cause.  1  am 
soon  to  take  my  departure  for  another  hemisphere,  but  I  sliall 
follow  with  my  sym})atliy  the  glorious  termination  of  your  ]al)ors 
and  the  course  of  tiiat  solemn  assembly  of  Panama,  in  which  will 
be  consolidated  and  completed  all  the  principles  and  all  the  inter- 
ests of  the  inde})endence,  liberty,  and  policy  of  America. 

Keceive,  Mr.  President-Liberator,  the  homage  of  my  profound 
and  respectful  attachment. 

Lafayette. 

Together  with  this  courteous  letter,  the  Liberator  received  the 
following  despatch  from  the  Minister  Plenipotentiary  of  Colombia 
in  "Washington: 

jose    maria    salazar   to  h.  e.  the    president  of   colombia, 

general  simon  bolivar. 

New  York,  1825. 

Sir — The  family  of  the  illustrious  Washiiigton  offers  Your 
Excellency  a  gift  worthy  both  of  Your  Excellency  and  of  itself. 
General  Lafayette  has  been  chosen  as  the  respected  intermediary 
for  forwarding  it  and  has  placed  it  in  my  hands  together  with  the 
annexed  letters  which  I  have  the  honor  of  enclosing, 

I  do  not  know  what  is  to  be  most  highly  valued  in  this  mani- 
festation of  esteem  for  the  person  of  Your  Excellency,  the  act  of 
courtesy  itself  or  the  delicacy  shown  in  the  way  of  performing  it. 
A  medal  of  gold,  received  l;y  the  Father  of  the  Lulependence  of 
North  America  after  the  surrender  of  Yorktown,  which  ]nit  an 
end  to  the  Revolutionary  War,  jind  presented  to  Your  Excellency 
after  tlie  day  of  Ayacucho,  which  must  have  closed  our  own  con- 
test— a  portrait  containing  a  portion  of  the  hair  which  covered  the 
head  of  the  hero  of  the  North — are  objects  of  inestimable  worth. 
And  the  value  of  the  homage  is  doubled  if  we  consider  tluit  you 
are  receiving  these  gifts  from  the  very  family  of  Washington,  and 
through  the  hands  of  a  friend  and  comi)anion  of  Washington,  now 
the  object  of  the  veneration  and  love  of  this  hap])y  nation  which 
he  helped  to  create  with  his  valor  and  his  sword. 

General  Tjayafctte  writes  to  you  that  ''  he  would  rather  offer 
this  record  of  his  fatherly  friend  as  a  token  of  esteem  to  General 
Bolivar,  than  to  any  man  living  or  to  any  of  those  Avho  are  famed 


143  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

in  history. "  Both  hy  their  own  meaning  and  the  quality  of  the 
person  who  enunciates  them,  these  words  are  more  than  equal  to  a 
lengtliy  panegyric.  The  expressions  of  Mr.  George  Washington  P. 
Oustis  are  no  less  flattering,  v/hen,  in  the  name  of  the  illustrious 
family  he  rejoresents,  he  suggests  to  Your  Excellency  "  that  his 
family  has  preserved  these  guerdons  until  tliere  came  a  second 
Washington  who  was  to  be  their  owiier.'^  This  idea  of  Mr.  Custis 
identifies,  as  it  were,  the  copy  with  the  model  and  its  expression 
constitutes  a  sentiment  full  of  force  and  moral  beauty.  The  two 
letters  addressed  to  Your  Excellency  and  containing  these  ideas, 
have  been  pu])lished  in  the  United  States.  They  have  been 
received  with  applause  by  this  nation  which  is  both  great  and  just, 
which  on  every  fitting  occasion  manifests  its  esteem  for  you  and 
designates  you  as  the  Washington  of  the  South,  a  title  which  com- 
prises the  highest  praise  with  which  it  can  honor  you. 

May  Your  Excellency,  therefore,  accept  these  tokens  and  may 
they  be  preserved  in  your  family  as  a  precious  guerdon,  to  be 
alienated  only  for  a  motive  like  the  present  one,  in  favor  of  some 
future  hero-Liberator  of  his  country,  and  who  will  have  made 
military  glory  promote  civil  order.  AYhen  peace  will  crown  the 
work  of  justice,  and  when  Your  Excelleucy  will  have  received  tlie 
reward  it  has  requested  from  its  country  as  a  compensation  for  its 
sacrifices,  the  repose  of  honorable  retirement,  thus  assimilating  tlie 
valleys  of  Aragua  to  Mount  Vernon,  may  Your  Excellency  phice 
these  valuable  guerdons  in  the  most  distinguished  place  of  your 
country  residence  and  engrave  below  them  the  following  inscription : 

"  They  belonged  to  the  most  virtuous  of  lieroes  :  they  were 
gifts  of  his  family  and  were  received  through  Lafayette." 

I  am,  with  distinguished  consideration,  Your  Excellency's 
obedient  servant,  Jose  Maria  Salazar. 

These  letters  only  reached  the  Liberator  on  the  2Cth  of  March, 
1826,  six  days  after  his  having  answered  a  first  letter  of  Lafayette, 
in  which  the  latter  had  recommended  to  him  one  of  his  country- 
men. Bolivar,  however,  luid  already  heard  through  the  newspapers 
of  the  gift  which  the  family  of  AVashiugton  was  forwarding  to  liim 
tlirough  the  intermediary  of  the  illustrious  French  General.  He 
did  not  hesitate,  therefore,  in  liis  answer  to  refer  as  follows  to  the 
present  he  had  not  yet  received  : 

BOLIVAR  TO   GENERAL  LAFAYETTE. 

Lima,  March  20, 182G. 
General — I  have  had  the  honor  of  seeing,  for  the  first  time, 


WOULD's   COLUMBIAN    EXPOSITION.  143 

the  cluiriicters  traced  l)y  that  liiiml  whicli  has  conferred  such 
henefits  on  tlie  New  Worhl.  I  owe  this  honor  to  Colonel  Mercier, 
who  has  handed  nie  your  nuicli  appreciated  letter  of  October  ir)t]i 
of  last  year,  'rhroiiiih  the  pul)lic  news})apers  I  have  learnt  with 
the  greatest  pleasure  that  you  have  had  the  kindness  to  honor  me 
with  a  gift  of  i)recious  guerdons  from  j\Iount  Vernon.  Through 
your  hands  1  am  to  receive  tlie  portrait  of  AVashington,  a  relic  of 
his  person,  and  one  of  the  tokens  of  his  glory,  in  the  name  of 
the  family  of  the  great  citizen,  of  the  first-born  son  of  the  New 
World.  No  words  can  express  the  full  value  which  my  heart 
attaches  to  this  present,  and  to  the  motives  for  whicli  it  was  made, 
and  which  are  so  glorious  for  me.  The  honor  conferred  on  me  by 
the  family  of  AVashington  is  greater  than  any  I  could  have  hoped 
for,  even  in  imagination,  because  W^ashington,  presented  by 
Lafayette,  is  the  crown  of  all  human  rewards.  He  was  the  noble 
promoter  of  social  reform,  and  you  are  the  citizen  hero,  the  athlete 
of  libertv,  with  one  hand  serving  America  and  with  the  other  the 
Old  AVoi-ld. 

What  mortal  could  really  be  worthy  of  the  honors  which  you 
and  Mount  Vernon  have  conferred  on  me.  My  confusion  is  equal 
to  the  immensity  of  the  gratitude  which  I  offer  you,  joined  with 
the  respect  and  veneration  which  every  man  owes  to  the  Nestor  of 
Liberty. 

AVith  the  utmost  consideration  I  am  your  respectful  admirer, 

Bolivar. 

Simultaneously  with  the  interesting  letter  of  Lafayette,  Boli- 
var received  one  from  George  Washington  P.  Custis,  in  which  the 
latter  forwarded  to  him  the  medal  whicli  the  city  of  Williamsburg, 
the  former  capital  of  Virginia,  had  presented  to  Washington.  We 
do  not  know  where  the  guerdon  is  at  present.  On  the  obverse  is 
engraved  the  genius  of  American  liberty,  represented  by  Wisdom 
and  Bravery,  with  the  following  legend:  Vuiiite  et  lahorc  florent 
Ile>(pHhJicar.  Cindad  dc  WiUiaiushnrfj,  On  the  reverse  side 
appears  an  armed  warrior,  wdio,  after  putting  aside  his  shield,  is  in 
tlie  act  of  })iercing  with  a  lance  a  crowned  lion  which  is  attacking 
him.  Above  the  warrior  shines  the  American  constellation  of  the 
thirteen  States,  with  the  legend :  In  lioc  s'ujno  riuccs  and  the  fol- 
lowing inscription:  En  daf  Viryinia prininui. 

The  gift  of  this  medal  had  more  of  a  national  than  of  a  private 
character,  because  it  assimilated  so  closely  the  two  illustrious  repre- 
sentatives of  the  Kepublicau  cause  on  the  American  continent.  We 


144  THE   UKITED   STATES   OF   VEN^EZUELA. 

here  insert  this  letter,  which  is  remarkable  both  by  the  elevation  of 
the  sentiments  expressed  and  the  noble  ideas  it  contains. 

GEORGEv    WASHINGTON"     P.     CUSTIS     TO    THE     HOXORABLE     GENERAL 
BOLIVAR,   PRESIDENT-LIBERATOR. 

August  26,  1825. 
To  THE  Liberator: 

Sir — An  American  belonging  to  the  family  of  Mount  Vernon 
presents  to  you  through  the  honorable  hands  of  tiie  brave  Lafayette, 
the  last  surviving  general  of  the  army  which  founded  the  Indepen- 
dence of  North  America,  a  medal  commemorative  of  the  merit  and 
fame  of  the  man  who  was  most  truly  great  and  glorious.  lie 
received  it  from  the  ancient  capital  of  his  native  State  and  it  has 
been  preserved  in  his  family  since  the  war  of  emancipation.  This 
token  of  our  esteem  is  accompanied  by  a  portrait  of  the  great  leader, 
enclosing  a  lock  of  his  hair. 

Deign  to  accept,  sir,  these  offerings  as  a  tribute  to  your  virtues 
and  to  the  illiistrious  services  you  have  rendered  to  your  country 
and  to  the  cause  of  the  human  race.  May  they  be  preserved  in  the 
archives  of  liberty  in  South  America,  an  object  of  veneration  for 
future  centuries.  May  they,  together  with  the  records  of  South 
American  leaders,  receive  tlie  homage  of  all  Americans  who  with 
sincere  and  triumphant  acclamations  salute  you  as  Boliv((r  flie  Lib- 
erator ^  the  Washing  ton  of  tlie  South. 

George  Washington  P.  Custis. 

•Two  months  after  sending  his  answer  to  Lafayette,  Bolivar 
wrote  from  Lima  to  AVashington  P.  Custis  the  following  courteous 
letter  on  the  2r>th  of  May,  the  day  on  which  he  had  received  the 
noble  gift  forwarded  to  him  by  Washington's  family : 

BOLIVAR  to  WASHINGTON   P.   CUSTIS. 

Lima,  3fag  25,  1826. 

Sir — Although  the  public  papers  had  informed  me  of  the  glor- 
ious gift  Avith  which  the  son  of  the  great  Washington  had  wislied 
to  honor  me,  I  luid  not  u})  to  this  day  received  eitlier  the  venerated 
record  of  the  Man  of  Liberty  or  the  flattering  letter  of  his  worthy 
(1es(KMulant.  To-day  this  estimable  present  has  been  ])lace(l  in  my 
hands.  The  portrait  of  the  [)i-iii('ipal  benefactor  of  the  continent 
of  Columbus,  presented  by  the  wortiiy  descendant  of  his  illustrious 
family  through  the  intermediary  of  the  citizen  hero.  General  Lafay- 


■world's   COLrMBTA"N"   EXPOSITION".  145 

cttc,  is  a  giK'rdoii  suflicieiit  to  reward  the  iiiurit  of  tlie  first  man  in 
the  rniverso.  Am  I  worthy  of  siicli  lioma<i^e  ?  No;  but  I  acce})t 
the  iiift  witli  a  i)k'asurc'  and  a  gratitude  wliieli,  to^etlier  witli  tlie 
veuerable  renuiius  of  the  father  of  America,  will  pass  down  to  the 
most  remote  generations  of  my  country;  they  should  Ije  the  last 
existing  in  the  New  World. 

Please  to  accept,  sir,  the  most  sincere  and  most  respectful  testi- 
mony of  my  perfect  consideration. 

BOLIVAK. 


To  express  the  admiration  awakened  in  the  family  of  Washing- 
ton by  the  glory  and  virtues  of  Bolivar,  they  had  presented  him 
with  the  portniit  of  the  modern  Oincinnatns,  with  a  lock  of  his  hair 
and  with  a  medal  which  had  been  borne  on  the  breast  of  the  Father 
of  his  country.  This,  however,  was  not  all.  Through  General 
D'Evereux,  Mrs.  Eliza  Parke  Custis  sent  to  Bolivar  under  date  of 
November  8,  1828,  an  autograph  of  Washinofton.  It  was  the  letter 
in  which  he  bade  good-bye  to  his  wife  befoi-e  leaving  for  the  seat  of 
war  in  1775.  This  was  a  delicate  gift,  a  record  of  intimate  love,  a 
crown  of  myrtle  with  which  the  family  of  Washington,  whilst  ren- 
dering homage  to  Bolivar,  also  showed  their  appreciation  of  the 
home  virtues  of  the  illustrious  founder  of  the  Republic  on  American 
soil. 

ELIZA     PARKE     CUSTIS     TO     GENERAL     BOLIVAR,   LIBERATOR     OF 

COLOMBIA. 

New  York,  Xovemhcr  8,  1828. 

The  fame  of  Washington  is  spread  throughout  the  entire  world. 
Wherever  his  name  is  pronounced,  it  is  with  praise  and  blessings. 
He  was  the  first  in  war,  the  first  in  peace,  and  will  always  be  the  first 
in  the  hearts  of  his  countrymen. 

As  a  public  man  he  is  spotless.  His  conduct  in  private  life  is 
a  model  of  perfection  as  a  husband,  as  a  father,  and  as  a  friend. 

Unequaled  hero,  he  possessed  a  wife  and  loving  friend  to  whom 
he  confided  the  secrets  of  his  soul.  She  was  worthy  of  his  love  and 
confidence.  Her  virtues  were  the  ])ride  and  admii-ation  of  all  who 
came  in  contact  with  her.  Up  to  the  last  she  knew  how  to  preserve 
the  affection  of  her  husband.  xVccording  to  the  very  words  of 
Washington  :   Xriflwr  finir  )inr  disffnirp  could  alter  Jn's  lore. 

During  the  painful  disease  which  bore  him  to  the  tomb  she  did 


146  THE   UNITED   STATES   OF   VENEZUELA. 

not  for  an  instant  leave  his  side,  and  remained  by  him  up  to  the  last 
moment. 

In  this  hard  trial  she  raised  her  prayers  to  heaven  from  the 
utmost  depths  of  her  soul,  but  silently,  so  as  not  to  cause  anxiety 
to  the  idol  of  her  heart.  Whilst  suffering  that  intense  pain,  she 
desired  nothing  more  ardently  than  to  follow  him.  On  closing-  tlie 
journey  of  life,  she  showed  at  the  moment  of  death  the  heroic  forti- 
tude of  the  companion  of  her  existence. 

The  luime  and  tlie  virtues  of  Wasliington  are  the  property  of 
his  country.  He  exposed  his  life  for  it,  but  he  always  preferred 
home  and  the  society  of  his  family  to  the  pomp  and  splendor  of 
public  positions.  The  American  people,  to  whom  he  was  an  affec- 
tionate father,  knew  this,  and,  therefore,  loved  him  much. 

lie  sent  the  enclosed  letter  to  his  Avife  at  the  time  the  Federal 
Congress  had  named  him  commander-in-chief  of  the  army.  She 
kept^it  carefully  during  the  whole  of  her  life  and  after  her  death  it 
was  found  amongst  her  papers.  The  letter  as  here  given  corre- 
sponds exactly  with  the  original,  and  has  been  collated  by  Eliza 
Parke  Custis,  daughter-in-law  of  Washington. 

I  entrust  to  the  hands  of  General  D'Evereux  these  sad  records 
of  my  beloved  parents.  AVhen  he  arrived  in  the  United  States  the 
Father  of  his  country  was  already  no  more;  but  I  introduced  him 
to  Mrs.  Washington  and  she  received  him  at  Blount  Vernon  as  a 
distinguished  guest. 

I  have  considered  him  as  an  adoptive  brother.  T  believe  that 
the  valiant  cliief  and  ardent  friend  of  liberty  is  wortby  of  receiving 
these  precious  relics  so  as  to  transmit  them  to  Bolivar,  the  Liberator 
of  Colombia. 

These  gifts  are  presented  to  the  Liberator  of  the  Republic  of 
Colombia  by  the  grancUlaughter  of  Mrs.  Washington  as  a  token  of 

her  esteem. 

Eliza  Parke  Custis. 


WASHINGTON  TO   HIS   WIFE.' 

Philadelphia,  June  23,  1775. 

My  Dear  Love — I  am  going  to  leave  this  city  within  a  few 
moments,  but  T  cannot  make  up  my  mind  to  take  my  departure 
witliout  sending  you  a  line,  especially  as  1  am  not  certain  of  having 
anotlier  oj^portunity  of  doing  so  before  my  arrival  at  the  camp 
l)efore  lioston.  Jn  going,  1  commit  myself  entirely  to  the  hands  of 
Divine  Providence,  which  has  always  so  visibly  deigned  to  protect 


'  Uetrauslatcil  fn)iu  the  Spanish.—  Translators  note. 


world's  COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  147 

nic,  even  be3'ond  my  deserts.  1  vciiliire  toe.\i)resa  my  trust  that  we 
s  :ill  have  the  pleasure  of  being  again  together  at  least  next  fall.  1 
h  ive  no  time  to  Avrite  more,  for  I  am  actually  overwhelmed  with 
farewell  visits.  I  preserve  for  you  the  most  sincere  aH'cction  which 
neither  time  nor  distance  can  ever  change.  With  my  dearest  love 
to  Jack  and  Nelly  and  remembrances  to  the  rest  of  the  family,  1 
remain  most  sincerely 

Ever  yours, 

G.  Washington. 

Two  years  after  receiving  this  gift,  Bolivar  went  to  his  rest  in 
the  midst  of  the  struggles  of  political  i^arties.  The  last  remains  of 
accumulated  hatred  slowly  disappeared  on  his  tomb.  But  a  day 
came  when  the  justice  of  men  began  the  work  of  apotheosis  and 
the  first  manifestation  of  art  acted  as  an  encouragement  to  the 
muse  of  History.  To  the  noble  Jose  Ignacio  Paris,  a  victim  who 
survived  the  horrors  of  the  "  war  unto  death  "  (guerra  a  muerfe), 
belongs  the  honor  of  having  erected  on  the  Andes  the  first  statue 
of  the  Liberator  in  1846.  This  admirer  and  friend  of  Bolivar  bore 
the  entire  expense  of  the  Avork  of  Tenerani  which  adorns  the 
square  of  Bogota,  as  a  homage  of  gratitude  to  the  great  citizen. 
He  presented  it  to  the  Congress  of  his  country,  New  Granada,  and 
this  offering  of  love  and  duty  thus  became  national. 

It  is  noteworthy  that  when  Ignacio  Paris  gave  the  models  to 
the  artist,  he  ordered  that  on  the  breast  of  Bolivar  one  medal  only 
was  to  appear — that  which  contains  the  portrait  of  Washington 
and  which  his  family  presented  to  the  Liberator." 

What  was  the  motive  of  these  instructions,  of  this  exclusion  of 
ally  other  medal  ?  It  was  because  the  effigy  of  Washington  on  the 
breast  of  Bolivar,  illustrated  by  art,  is  to  be  eternal  like  Washing- 
ton— like  the  memory  of  the  great  benefactors  of  the  human  race 
is  eternal. 

The  statue  of  Washington  on  one  of  the  squares  of  Caracas, 
the  birthplace  of  Bolivar,  unveiled  during  the  celebration  of  the 
Centenary  of  Bolivar  in  1SS3,  had  not  yet  received  an  official  salute 
from  the  flag  of  the  great  American  Kepublic.     Then  occurred  one 


'  Since  that  date  all  statues,  l)iists,  and  portraits  of  Bolivar  bear  the  effigy 
of  Washiuiitou. 


148  THE    UNITED    STATES   OF   YEXEZUELA. 

of  those  incidents  which  bring  two  nations  nearer  together  and 
leave  in  the  lieart  of  each  imperishable  records.  The  country  of 
Washington  celebrated  with  official  solemnity  and  with  the  cordial 
assent  of  the  North  American  people,  the  funeral  of  Paez,  the 
leader  who  acquired  such  celebrity  in  the  great  war  of  Venezuela. 

The  courtesies  which  Colombia  had  received  from  the  great 
Repuljlic  in  182G,  during  the  lifetime  of  Bolivar,  were  to  be  repeated 
in  the  days  when  the  mortal  remains  of  Pi'iez  were  transferred  to 
Venezuela,  to  be  deposited  in  the  Pantheon  of  his  country.  In 
1888  it  became  known  in  New  York  that  the  Venezuelan  Govern- 
ment was  sending  to  the  great  Metropolis  a  commission  of  citizens 
who  were  to  conduct  to  Venezuela  the  mortal  remains  of  the 
founder  of  civil  power  in  that  country.  A  numerous  body  of 
American  citizens  gathered  spontaneously  and  constituted  a  com- 
.mittee  under  the  presidency  of  the  celebrated  veteran,  General 
Sherman.  The  initiative  of  these  citizens  found  an  echo  in  the 
nation.  Widely  spread  by  the  Press,  the  idea  was  transmitted 
from  the  original  committee  to  the  Municipality  of  New  York, 
from  the  Municipality  to  the  Government  of  the  State,  and  from 
there  to  the  Central  Government  and  Congress.  Following  the 
wishes  of  the  nation,  as  expressed  by  President  Cleveland,  Congress 
authorized  tlie  Secretary  of  the  Navy  to  place  at  the  disposal  of  the 
Venezuelan  Commissioners  a  vessel  of  the  national  navy  in  order 
to  bear  the  mortal  remains  of  Paez  to  the  shores  of  the  country  of 
Bolivar.  Not  satisfied  with  rendering  this  homage  to  Venezuela 
in  the  person  of  one  of  its  most  distinguished  men.  Congress  also 
decreed  that  three  Senators  and  five  Representatives  should  repre- 
sent it  in  the  public  funeral. 

Thus  it  happened  that  before  the  remains  of  Ptiez  reached  his 
native  shores  of  Venezuela,  they  were  conducted  with  honor  by  the 
great  American  nation  to  the  pier  where  the  sailors  of  the  Poisa- 
.ola  received  them  as  if  they  had  been  those  of  one  of  their  own 
great  countrymen. 

"  To  receive  when  dead,  from  the  first  nation  of  the  present 
time,  such  free  and  conspicuous  homage,  is  to  have  deserved  a  high 
place  amongst  the  great  men  of  history,  and  uiuler  the  shelter  of 
Washington  to  have  acquired  his  riglit  to  immortality  as  a  soldier 
of  Liberty.     This  is  a  tribute  of  esteem  for  our  young  mother- 


world's   COLUMBIAN   EXPOSITION.  140 

country,  which  can  point  proudly  to  her  Liber<ator,  to  whom  all 
nations  render  homage,  and  to  this  son  of  hers,  who  has  received 
from  the  Republicans  of  North  America  the  honors  reserved  to  men 
illustrious  for  their  services  to  their  country  and  to  the  hrnian 
race.' 

When  in  Caracas  the  festival  took  a  purely  Venezuelan  charac- 
ter and  social  intercourse  succeeded  the  sumptuous  funeral  cere- 
mony, it  seemed  as  if  two  free  and  progressive  nations  were  becom- 
ing one.  During  the  ceremonies  the  officers  of  the  Pensacola  took 
part  in  the  enthusiasm  witli  which  the  population  of  Caracas  were 
saluting  the  effigy  of  Washington  before  rendering  homage  to  the 
remains  of  Paez.  In  commemoration  of  common  American  glories, 
Washington  was  saluted  by  the  Venezuelan  flag  and  Bolivar  by  the 
star-spangled  banner  and  then  both  by  the  united  flags.  A  writer 
of  that  date  says:  "To  show  reverence  to  Washington  is  to  honor 
American  virtue,  which  flourishes  in  those  souls  alone  fed  on  the 
love  of  the  people  and  of  liberty.  To  reverence  Bolivar  is  to  glorify 
American  patriotism,  the  creator  of  the  democratic  nations  of  the 
New  World.^'  "^ 

Thus  was  the  funeral  of  Paez  presided  over  by  the  Government 
of  the  United  States  far  away  from  our  shores  and  his  mortal  remains 
were  brought  to  us  under  the  shelter  of  the  star-spangled  banner  of 
the  Republic  founded  by  the  immortal  Washington.  This  is  one  of 
the  most  remarkable  facts  of  modern  times  and  is  an  honor  for  the 
country  of  Bolivar.  Tims  the  great  men  of  history  united  in  life 
by  prolific  ideas  and  immortal  deeds,  still  remain  united  in  death. 
Their  memory  is  eternal  in  time  and  space. 


'  Villanueva. — "  Apotcosis  dc  Paoz."     I  Vol.  en  8vo.,  1888. 
-  Villauueva.  —Work  quoted. 


m/»^^ 


INDBX. 


Page. 
Official  Documents,  .......       3 

General  Description  of  the  United  States  of  Venezuela.         .      1 1 

Descriptive   Catalogue  of  the  objects  sent  by  Venezuela  to 

the  World's  Columbian  Exposition,     .  .  .  -33 

Appendix :   Historical  objects  of  Venezuela  at  the   World's 

Columbian  Exposition,  by  Aristides  Rojas,  .  .     77 


^j:^ 


^*^^^^     ««  THE  LAST  DAI- 

WIUU  BE  ^S^t^t^e  DATE  ^^^^  TIJhE  FOURTH 

W1L.U  INCREAS       ^^O     ^^    THE 

DAY     AND    TO    *  ^^^^___,^ 

OVEPDUE-  — — ===^- 


IS 

>2^_ 

?^!3[ 

^ 

^ 

^ 

J^^J 

^^ 

^^D 

^^ 

i^^ 

1 

^ 

1^^^ 

^ 

^^^tfc 

^ 

^^ 

1 

^ 

S^^5^ 

^ 

:j.s^^ 

^ 

^^ 

^ 

^ 

^^s 

^s 

l^' 


'4  k. 


•t^r 


r^?^^ 

^ 

^ 

L^; 
^><^ 

<?^"< 

^^ 

';^^ 

ki*^^3 

Q^^^^D 

>>s< 

Sj^^M 

^1 

^^ 

^;*5^ 

Bt 

^^ 

I^^K^^H 

^^ 

1^^ 

^-< 

E^^9 

»SS^^H 

^ 

j^8 

^^ 

^^ 

>>*?^ 

^^^Si^^H 

^9t 

»<Sf> 

^^^ 

s^iK^ 

Lv^> 

?; 

U.C.  BERKELEY  LIBRARIES 


CD3flTED3Mt. 


l'^>:<2 


m-^ 


wm 


^^Wi 


UNIVERSITY  OF  CAIvIFORNIA  I^IBRARY 


^:X»^J 

^ 

saS 

l^^irl 

#:»5>^ 

2» 

"38 

j^^ 

